Markus Liebherr’s bright new era at Saints has got off to the best possible start – by tying captain Kelvin Davis down to a new three year contract.

The Daily Echo can exclusively reveal that Davis has rejected a move to Premier League side West Ham in favour of extending his stay at St Mary’s.

Liebherr’s team wasted no time after their acquisition of the club in ensuring the reigning player of the season and crowd hero put pen to paper on a three year contract with his previous deal having expired at the end of June.

The signature laid down a marker of what is to come in Liebherr’s control of Saints.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Daily Echo, Nicola Cortese, the man responsible for selling Saints to Liebherr and then conducting the deal said: "He (Liebherr) is completely into it already, he is already looking forward to July 18 and the Ajax match when he will come and fly his friends in and take them round the stadium to show his new company to them.

"He is a very passionate person and if you can attract his passion about something he is 100 per cent passionate."

See today's Daily Echo for the exclusive interview with Nicola Cortese and more on the incredible news that Kelvin Davis is staying at Saints.