Best turned down 900 per cent pay rise to quit Saints (From Daily Echo)

Best turned down 900 per cent pay rise to quit Saints

7:42am Wednesday 26th September 2007 in News By Adam Leitch, Chief Sports Writer

Saints have received £650,000 for Leon Best - a player they were paying around £400 a week to last season.

The Professional Game Compensation Committee told Coventry they must pay up for the 21-year-old striker who exercised his freedom of contract to quit St Mary's in the summer.

At the time Saints made no secret of their desire to keep Best who, as a young pro, is understood to have been paid £400 a week when he played in Saints' vital play-off games at the end of last season.

The Daily Echo understands Saints offered him a staggering 900 per cent pay increase of £4,000 a week to keep him at the club.

That is believed to be the figure that Best's agent asked for and was matched by Saints.

However, he later informed the club he was moving to Coventry where he is understood to have got an even better deal.

Saints were due compensation for his training and development due to the fact he is under 24.

After negotiations between Coventry and Saints broke down, it had to be settled by tribunal.

Full story: see today's Daily Echo.