A letter from Rickie

[saint_martin]

What can I say??

Southampton has been my life for the past five years, in which we have achieved all of our dreams and more.

First I have to thank Markus Liebherr for saving Southampton then Alan Pardew for bringing me to the club.

Thank you to all the staff involved in making me the player I am today. Without your knowledge and commitment I would not be here right now at a World Cup with England.

Thank you to all the players, past and present, who I have had nothing but good times and success with driven by our club captain, Kelvin Davis. I love every last one of you.

Thank you to the managers I have worked with ? Alan, Nigel and Mauricio ? and their teams for helping me and Southampton step up and adapt to every challenge that has come our way the past five years.

When I grew up there was only one club I loved. I can honestly say now I have two clubs which will always be in my heart and that is thanks to the Saints fans.

The people who support this club have been not

[Rockthecasbah]

Fair play to him, shows a touch of class.

Cannot see Cortese mentioned?

[Brockley_Jack]

Even LeGod tweeted a link to this a few hours back saying that's how players should carry themselves when leaving.

Respect from the top, deservedly.

[harvey_7]

Fair play to him I wish him all the best at Liverpool & thank him for everything.

[K5054]

Top bloke is SRL. A very sincere letter and I like the piece when he says he only ever loved one club and now he loves two. Best of luck to him for the rest of his career and especially at the World Cup. Saints legend now and always.

[BlueAdder]

Touch of class from SRL,very rare these days.

We expected something similar from Chainrai.

[ShottermillSaint]

I know it sounds ridiculous being gutted about a footballer leaving when i'm nearly 40, but i haven't been this disappointed since Steve Williams left and that was about 30 years ago.

Hard to pick a favourite Sir Rickie moment as there have been so many great ones but i think the goal away at Man City for me, very apt that he scored our first goal back in the top league.

His career is a great example to any lower league player to keep working hard as you never know where your career will take you.

One of the best player i've ever seen in a Saints shirt

[BileysThere]

That's what we all want from players who move on when we would rather they stay. Respect to Rickie.

[Grannie64]

From his first game to the last he has been exemplary professional for the club and community and I hope the Liverpool fans will treat him with the respect he deserves. He will always be a Saints Legend and I look forward to seeing him at St Marys next season.

[Dirtyweasel]

Respect for the letter but he's a Liverpool player now and I'm more concerned with who'll be replacing him.