Saints cancel Delgado contract
Southampton have today cancelled the contract of injury-plagued striker Agustin Delgado.
The £3.25million signing from Necaxa has been plagued by injury since signing for the club in October 2001 and that has ultimately brought a premature end to his career in England.
Delgado, who made just five first-team starts and 10 appearances as substitute, arrived needing knee surgery.
Despite medical attention Delgado continued to have knee trouble and then suffered back problems, forcing him to miss the 2003 FA Cup final and much of last season.
In a bid to build up match fitness he returned home to Ecuador and joined Aucas on loan and, with fewer physical demands and less intensity to the game, he was able to rediscover his goalscoring touch.
But Saints do not feel his body will stand up to the rigours of the Premiership and have opted to save on a year’s wages by cancelling the 29 year-old’s contract.
Saints chairman Rupert Lowe told the club’s official website, www.saintsfc.co.uk: “Tino was very popular at Southampton and in a way he became a bit of a cult figure.
“We are all sad to see him go and wish him well for the future.
“He is a quality player but unfortunately we could not get him fit enough for the Premiership despite a lot of effort by a lot of people.
“I have never worked as hard with anyone as I have done with him – he dined in the last chance saloon more than once.”
