Punch lined up for Saints exit? (From Daily Echo)

Punch lined up for Saints exit?

9:20am Tuesday 29th May 2012 in Sport By Adam Leitch , Chief Sports Writer

Saints are prepared to cash in on Jason Puncheon as he enters the final year of his contract.

The 25-year-old winger has endured a difficult time on the south coast since joining the club in February 2010 but his stint could finally come to an end this summer.

Puncheon is still attracting interest from Blackpool, if the fee is right, and there are rumours that he could even be used as makeweight in a player plus cash deal for youngster Tom Ince, son of former England international Paul Ince, while another Seasiders winger, Matt Phillips, has also been linked with Saints.

Puncheon has spilt from his former agent, Tony Finnigan, in a bid to smooth relations with the club.

Finnigan had some well publicised disagreements with Saints over their handling of Puncheon, who fell wildly out of favour after Nigel Adkins took over.

After several loan spells and plenty of acrimony, Puncheon was suddenly welcomed back into the fold at St Mary’s in January.

At the time Saints needed some cover out wide and Puncheon was able to provide it after making up with officials at the club.

However, as players returned to fitness his impact quickly diminished and by the end of the campaign he seemed like no more than a fringe player again, notching up just nine appearances in the second half of the season after his unexpected comeback.

See today's Southern Daily Echo for full story.