NIGEL QUASHIE has committed himself to helping Saints back to the Premiership.

The man signed from Portsmouth for £2.1m in January was made captain for the final few games of the season and is determined to make up for the disappointment the team have caused the fans.

Remarkably, it was the THIRD time Quashie has been at a club relegated from the Premiership.

He was a youngster at QPR when they dropped out of the top flight in 1995/96 and played a handful of games for Nottingham Forest when they were relegated three years later.

The Scottish international said: "You have to take a look at yourself.

"We've gone down from the top division and you're a part to of that.

"There's only one thing you can do to correct that and that's get the club back to where it should be.

"It's just hard to take and the way we feel about it.

"We've had enough games where we managed to let sides come back into it.

"It's been individual errors but it's nobody's fault because it's a team game and that's all that matters.

"The table doesn't lie, it's as a simple as that and there for all to see.

"If you're bottom of the league that's what you get.

"Everybody knows that teams have never really carved us open.

"It's been general individual mistakes, but we all make those."

Quashie almost immediately followed Harry Redknapp from Portsmouth to Southampton but doesn't regret the move - despite Saints' relegation from the top flight after 27 years.

"I never thought this would happen, I would never have come here otherwise," he said.

"There was enough points to play for and with the players we had here I was confident.

"There was no way I was staying at Portsmouth so as far as I'm concerned I have no regrets coming here.

"I never thought there was a chance this would happen.

"I came here to be with the boys and be a part of it and I'm now a part of a team that has gone down.

"I'll take a look at myself, as I think every player will do, and the only way to put that right is to put Southampton back in the Premier Division where they should be."

Quashie is also hoping that Redknapp takes time to think over his future and is confident whatever his current boss does will be for the good of the club rather than any personal gain.

He added: "If he wasn't the manager I would have probably still come here.

"He's been great for me, but for him to be considering his future now is talk.

"There's always speculation about players and managers but the most important thing will be he makes the right decision for Southampton Football Club.

"And he will because he's the type of person who will always put himself second.

"We all need a break and to have a look at ourselves, see what direction the club's going in and the right decisions are made for this club."

Saints defender Paul Telfer has also gone down from the top flight - with Luton (91/92), Coventry (00/01) and now Saints.