SAINTS beat off interest from this weekend’s opponents Brighton to sign Jack Cork in the summer.

The midfielder moved to St Mary’s from Chelsea, despite being chased by a host of clubs.

One team to make a late enquiry for the 22-year-old was Albion – who visit St Mary’s on Saturday.

The approach came from Seagulls chairman Tony Bloom’s brother, Darren, who spoke to Cork’s dad – former Wimbledon star Alan.

“I had a quiet chat with Darren,”

said Cork Sr.

“I told him he was going to Southampton and that was it really. It was a very brief conversation.

“Southampton put a bid in straight away for Jack and it was a case of who was going to front up and match the bid. There were only three clubs that did that.”

And, as far as Cork’s dad is concerned, his son appears to have made the correct choice.

“There were a few clubs in for him,”

he said.

“It’s difficult to make the right decision really. In the end he decided to go there. He’s made a good choice at the moment.

“I have always tried to say it’s his own career, because whenever Jack gets mentioned I always get mentioned.

“He’ll speak to me if it’s something he is not sure about but I just leave him to get on with it otherwise. He’s 22 now and you have to make your own mind up.

“But we had long chats over the summer about different things and I spoke to a few people for him.

“In the end it was one of those things.

Off you go, get the right money, and he signed.”

Cork’s dad was previously assistant manager at Brighton, under former Saint Micky Adams’ leadership, and he is looking forward to the clash between the two clubs.

“It will be a footballing game and I think there will be some goals, because both teams can score,” he said.

“Southampton are flying at the moment. They have got five or six players scoring, which you need because once your main man stops scoring it causes problems for you.

“They’ll have their ups and downs and they’ll get beaten two or three times. It will depend on how they react.”