Football star Adam Lallana took out a full-page ad in his local daily paper to thank fans ahead of his £25m transfer.
England midfielder Lallana this week left Southampton after 14 years this week to join Liverpool, following striker Ricke Lambert to Anfield.
The 26-year-old, who was club captain at the South Coast outfit, showed his gratitude to supporters by taking out a page in the Southern Daily Echo.
It read: “Thank you, 14 unforgettable years, the memories will last a lifetime. Thank you Saints fans for your endless support, a place in my heart forever.”
Echo editor Ian Murray said: “We are delighted such a high profile player chose the Southern Daily Echo as the medium to speak to fans of Southampton FC to say his farewell.
“It shows that the players recognise that their local paper is the best way to reach out to fans with credibility.”
Lallana joined the club as a schoolboy and rose through the youth ranks, helping Saints to return to the Premier League in 2012 after having dropped to League One in 2009.
Other summer departures at St Mary’s have seen left-back Luke Shaw join Manchester United and manager Mauricio Pocchetino take over at Tottenham.
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Nice idea… but such a shame for Southampton. If they could only have hung on to the players they brought through the ranks (Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Bale et al) and have kept hold of Pocchetino, they’d have an outfit to rival the Top Four.
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Good lad!
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Pity Lallana couldn’t raise the Southern Daily Echo’s circulation, too, which has dropped off a cliff since Mr Murray took over.
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