I GAVE UP THOUSANDS TO GET OUT

RUDI SKACEL wrote off last season's bonus money from Hearts to seal his switch to Southampton.

And the midfielder took a thinly-veiled swipe at Jambos owner Vladimir Romanov as he clinched a £1.6million move to St Mary's. There he will be reunited with George Burley, the manager who took him to Tynecastle from Marseille last summer.

Skacel finally signed for the Saints on Saturday, minutes before their pre-season friendly with Greek aces Panathinaikos.

And he revealed he had given up thousands of pounds in bonuses to ensure his departure from Scotland. Skacel said: "Negotiations between Hearts and Southampton have been very long and stressful but I'm satisfied to be with my new club.

"I had several offers but preferred Southampton because I know George and his colleagues from Hearts.

"Working with them in the first four months of last season was the best time of my whole career.

"I said goodbye to my friends in Edinburgh but not Mr Romanov. I had to give up all of my bonuses from last season, including the Scottish Cup, and that was a lot of money.

"But I think England provides better competition than the Scottish Premier League.

"There are several good, strong clubs here, whereas in Scotland there are perhaps only five.

"I'm satisfied to be at Southampton and only have one aim for the season ahead - to return to the Premiership immediately." Skacel walked out on Hearts earlier this month, deciding he did not want to stay despite agreeing a two-year option 12 months earlier.

The Czech admitted he was disappointed to miss out on playing his first game of the pre-season against former club Pana.

He said: "I wanted to play but it wasn't possible. My contract with Southampton was signed only a few minutes before kick-off, directly on the pitch."

Taken from the Daily Record