Adkins - 'I Don't Owe Pardew Any Debt'

Southampton manager Nigel Adkins says he will invite his predecessor Alan Pardew for a drink after the match on Sunday, but he doesn't owe him a debt. Pardew was manager at St Mary's for just over a year and led the club to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy title, as well as agonisingly close to the League One play-offs despite a 10-point deduction. On Sunday the 51-year-old returns to Southampton for the first time since leaving the club in August 2010. Nigel Adkins: "I don't think I owe him any debt [of gratitude] at all. "Whatever situation arose, he moved on. I am the manager of Southampton Football Club. "We've just had back-to-back promotions, we're doing ever so well in our forward progression. "We're trying to make sure the youngsters come through the system here at Southampton. "To have James Ward-Prowse, Ben Reeves and now Luke Shaw into the first-team is very rewarding. "We always welcome the opposition manager, whoever it is, to St Mary's. "When the whistle blows, then it is go to win a game of football. "Afterwards we always invite them in for a drink. We've done that consistently. It doesn't matter who the manager is, that is what we've always done and what we will continue to do." Source: Newcastle United Mad

Source: FOOTYMAD