AVID Saints fan Dave Ford believes Rupert Lowe's decision to sell Wayne Bridge to Chelsea for around £7m is "disgusting".

While Ford, chairman of the Fair Oak branch of the Saints supporters club, does not blame Bridge for quitting to further his international ambitions, he believes Lowe should have held out for a higher figure.

And Ford now fears the departure of Bridge could send a message to the rest of the squad that Saints lack ambition to make that next step up.

Lowe, speaking in the Echo last Friday, told the St Mary's faithful to 'trust' himself and the management to bring in the right players at the right price.

But Ford fumed: "It's ridiculous that we're getting £7m for a current England international and West Ham are getting £6m for Glen Johnson, a player with only a handful of first team appearances.

"I know West Ham's fee is in installments but in the end it adds up the fact we're getting only £1m more for an England international.

"I know Rupert Lowe doesn't want to keep any player who is unhappy, but we didn't have to accept his transfer request. We could have held out for a fee of around £10m to £12m. We could have said to the player 'you're only going when we get the right fee for you'.

"I don't blame Wayne Bridge for going. If someone offered me the chance of more than doubling my wages I wouldn't turn it down."

Ford continued: "By selling Bridge for only £7m what does that tell the likes of James Beattie? I'm sure the fans will be fearing he will be the next to go.

"If we'd made some signings it would have told the fans and the players they are ambitious and keen to make that next step up."