THE only man at Saints who ever watched Agustin Delgado before the club signed him for £3.25m today confessed: "We've learnt from our mistakes."

The controversial Ecuadorian forward's incident-packed three-year spell as a Saint ended on Thursday when the club cancelled the player's contract.

Saints cut their losses on Delgado, 29, who still had a year to run on his £10,000-a-week contract. And the club's European scout, Terry Cooper, hit out at the striker who he saw play just once before chairman Rupert Lowe sanctioned the purchase of what was at the time the club's second highest transfer fee in October 2001.

"I don't feel sorry for Delgado at all," insisted Cooper, pictured. "He might say he didn't have a fair crack of the whip under the previous regime, but he didn't help himself at all.

"People might say it's sad for the player but it's sad for the club - we paid over £3m for him!

"That's a lot of money for a club like Southampton to spend, and as someone who was brought up managing in the lower divisions I know we need to keep an eye on every penny we spend."

Delgado, pictured left, only made five starts for Saints since his arrival in November 2001, plus 10 as a substitute - which works out at £216,000 per game.

Since arriving at St Mary's, the player has actually started more games for his country than he has for Saints.

Cooper added: "We've learnt from our mistakes.

"Now we check the player's mentality and we watch him at least three times before deciding whether to take it any further.

"I just think Rupert got fed up with the player crying wolf all the time, and I don't blame him for cutting his losses.

"I was sent to Columbia to watch him play for Ecuador and he was absolutely magnificent, everything a big striker should be.

"It was the first time that Columbia had been beaten in La Paz for 15 years.

"I told Rupert that he had played exceptionally well but that we should check his medical history because his knee was strapped up.

"I know Gordon Strachan thought he was a good player but he was never fit.

"He had a knee op soon after he joined and then his back went."

Delgado returned to Ecuador back in March when he joined Aucas on loan.

He has scored six goals for them - including four in one match - and also scored for his country in a World Cup qualifier against Columbia earlier this month.

"A chap phoned me up recently to say he'd seen Delgado play for Ecuador," remarked Cooper.

"He said he was the best player on the pitch - I said 'typical'.

"I'm told he's scoring goals back in Ecuador but their league is played at walking pace.

"The trouble is, Delgado has spoilt it for everyone now.

"Southampton will probably never sign another South American player again.

"To play in the Premiership you need to be a fit player.

"You need 75 per cent technical ability and 25 per cent heart - you must really want to play in the Premiership.

"South Americans have a different mentality. We have seen it with Delgado, Manchester United saw it with Veron and Chelsea might see it with Crespo."