HASSAN KACHLOUL turned down a shock move to Ipswich on the eve of Saints final Premiership warm-up game against Real Sociedad.

Newly-promoted Ipswich yesterday came in with a bid of around £2 million for the Moroccan midfielder who now has now rejected the move to Portman Road.

Kachloul's contract expires at the end of this season when he would be available on a Bosman free transfer and he would be able to sign a pre-contract agreement abroad from the New Year.

So far Saints have been unable to agree a new deal and may have decided to cash in now rather than losing him for nothing in June.

However Kachloul is in no rush to quit The Dell and has decided to fight for his place and, despite the need to unload players no-one is pushing him out of the door.

He said: "I was told last night that the clubs had agreed a fee but I don't want to leave - I just want to play for Southampton. I have a lot of respect for them and for the fans and I like it here.

"I don't want to say anything against Ipswich because I have heard nothing but good things about them but it was not the right move for me. I will be at Derby at the beginning of the season and will continue to do my best for Southampton and will be as committed as I have always been."

Ipswich manager George Burley said today: "I spoke to the player at length last night to try and talk him into coming. He was very apologetic and has heard nothing but good things about Ipswich but he decided to stay with Southampton and fight for his place."

l Glenn Hoddle will tomorrow give his first clues about his line-up for the opening Premiership fixture at Derby as Saints take on Real Sociedad at The Dell (3pm). It will be the team's final warm-up match ahead of the new campaign and the Southampton boss wants to get as close as possible to what will be his starting line-up a week later.

Hoddle's final preparations though will be disrupted by interantional calls for Marian Pahars and Imants Bleidelis who fly out tomorrow to play for Latvia in a friendly against Belarus on Wednesday. They return the following day but will not re-join training until Friday, little more than 24 hours before the big kick-off.

Hoddle said: "It is awful timing to have an international just days before the start of the season."

There are still tickets available for tomorrow's game at £10 for adults and £2 for children. Fans can pay on the day for both areas behind the goal and lower tiers of the main stands but should arrive early.

Saints: (from) Jones, Moss, Dodd, El Khalej, Lundekvam, Bridge, Davies, Oakley, Draper, Kachloul, Rosler, Pahars, Tessem, Beattie, Marsden, Ripley, Richards, Le Tissier, Bleidelis, P Hughes, Monk.

Real Sociedad: (from) Alberto, Rekarte, Fuentes, Gurrutxaga, Loren, Pikabea, Aranzabal, Jauregi, Aranburu, Tayfun, Vega, Idiakez, Khokhlov, De Pedro, Gabilondo, Jankauskas, Alejandro, Collet, Asper.

The Saints Shop at The Dell will open until 7pm after tomorrow's game and from 10am until 2pm on Sunday to sell the new third kit which will be unveiled by the team against Real Sociedad.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.