SAINTS legend David Armstrong is refusing to help the club with its corporate entertainment anymore, after being told to leave the Mike Channon Suite on Saturday.

Armstrong, who made 222 appearances for Saints in the 1980s and scored 59 goals, was at St Mary’s for the match against Doncaster to cocommentate for Radio Hampshire.

He decided to visit some friends in the corporate hospitality area but was told by a steward to leave.

The incident left Armstrong, who occasionally speaks in an official capacity in the suite on matchdays, furious.

“There were only seven tables in the suite, but I knew people on two of them personally,” he said.

“I went in to see them and I also thought it would be a good PR exercise on behalf of the club to speak to a few of the punters.

“I was going in there as an ambassador for the club as much as anything.

“There were three of us talking among ourselves and I couldn’t have been in there more than two minutes when this chap came up to me.

“He said ‘Sorry, but you’re going to have to leave.’ “I thought it was a joke and he said ‘No, sir, I want you to leave.’ “I turned round to the people I was speaking to and said ‘Sorry, but I’m being thrown out.’ “This guy then said ‘No, I’m not throwing you out, I’m just asking you to leave.’ “But in my mind I was being thrown out.”

The incident has left a sour taste in Armstrong’s mouth and he said he would no longer help if asked to speak to fans in the corporate suites.

“If this is the sort of attitude they’re going to take then there’s no way I’m going to do it,” he said.

“I have got a great relationship with the stewards and people within the club, but like any club there are some jobsworth people who have no idea.”

A spokesman for the club said: “There have been reports that former Saints player David Armstrong was asked to leave the Mike Channon Suite at St Mary’s following this weekend’s match against Doncaster Rovers and this fact was relayed to a wider audience via Mr Armstrong’s role as summariser on Radio Hampshire.

“The club has a strong relationship with the ex-Saints and the contribution to the club of all of our former players is very much appreciated.

“We are always pleased to see ex- Saints both at games and in the suites. However, prior notice of their plans is asked for to ensure that stewards can be informed accordingly, and everyone can be treated fairly.

“Like all hospitality areas at St Mary’s, the Mike Channon suite is a ticketed area, requiring all guests to have a valid corporate ticket.

“Mr Armstrong was not in possession of such a ticket and was therefore politely asked to leave the suite by a steward when he had finished his conversation.

“Whilst the club would like to apologise for any personal inconvenience this may have caused to Mr Armstong, the policy of only allowing ticket holders into ‘ticket-only’ areas remains in place for the enjoyment and safety of all.”