HE was a former Saints Academy director and chief scout, and the man responsible for bringing Adam Lallana to Southampton.
John Sainty has died, aged 77.
Under manager Dave Jones, he was academy director in the late 90s and snapped up future England star Adam Lallana from Cherries at the age of 12.
He also acted as chief scout towards the end of his five-year stint at St Mary’s before scouting for AFC Bournemouth and coaching Lymington & New Milton and Bemerton Heath Harlequins.
Born in Poplar, East London in 1946, forward Sainty progressed through the youth ranks at Tottenham Hotspur and represented England Schoolboys.
He went on to play for Reading, AFC Bournemouth, Mansfield Town and Aldershot.
Sainty then began a coaching career under John Bond at Norwich City and Manchester City before going it alone at Chester.
Sainty teamed up again with Bond at Burnley. He later became assistant manager to Danny Bergara at Stockport County.
John also provided expert match analysis for the Press Association.
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