MATTHEW LE TISSIER, who plans to retire from football next month, is considering an offer to carry on playing - for Jewson Wessex League side Eastleigh.

The 33-year-old announced recently he would bring an end to his 17-year career with the Saints next month following his testimonial at the Friends Provident St Mary's Stadium on Tuesday May 14.

But the former England star revealed he had received an approach from Eastleigh assistant boss David Hughes, a former Southampton teammate, to play for the non-League side next season.

Le Tissier, who has scored 209 goals in 539 games for Saints, said: "I'm playing golf with Hughsie this week and he is going to try and talk me into turning out for Eastleigh for a couple of games next season.

"David talked to me initially a few weeks ago and asked if I would be interested. I said I would let him know when I knew what I would be doing next season.

"If I fancy a game next season and I'm really missing my football, then who knows. I've made no firm decisions yet one way or another. If I'm enjoying my life and not missing

football, then I'll do other things."

Le Tissier admitted he was busy organising his testimonial events, but confirmed that one thing he would not be doing is carving out a football career in America. He does not want to be too far away from his family.

He revealed he has had a number of offers from the media, and is looking to get involved as a football pundit.

Former Saints midfielder Hughes admits he was as surprised as anyone when the Southampton star publicly announced he was considering playing non-league football next season.

Hughes, who is lined up as Eastleigh's assistant manager, had been chipping away at his old Dell pal to turn out for him at Ten Acres, but never in his wildest dreams did he expect Le God to mention it openly.

He laughed: "The idea was to keep it hush-hush, but Matt's put himself under a bit of pressure now. He'll at least have to give us a couple of games!

"Seriously, though, I still don't know the extent of Matt's involvement, whether this is just a token gesture or whether he intends to play a few games for us. But it's very promising

that he's gone on record talking about Eastleigh."

"I've known Matt for a decade and they don't come any better than him. He's the top man in Southampton and it would be great for everyone if he did turn out for Eastleigh."

Le Tissier and Hughes regularly play golf together and their round this Friday will be a chance to chew over the idea in more detail.

Hughes, who was forced out of the game by injury, will be the right-hand man to Paul Doswell at Ten Acres. Between them, the pair will use football contacts and business know-how to raise the profile of a club that has long been regarded as the 'sleeping giant' of local non-league.

Doswell said: "All this is down to David. He's been telling me for a long time that Matt might have a few games for us but I never ever thought it would happen.

"It's a measure of the man that Matty's even considering playing for us. He could easily have got a contract with another professional club and yet he'd be prepared to come to us and play for nothing.

"The plus point of Eastleigh is that we're right near the airport and I know he flies back to Guernsey regularly to see his children."

A possible starting point for Le Tissier would be August 13 when another ex-Saint, Paul Tisdale, brings his Team

Bath outfit to Ten Acres for a pre-season friendly.