SAINTS Academy director John Sainty has dismissed claims by former Dell favourite David Webb that his son was a victim of Saints' overseas recruitment programme.

Young striker Danny Webb is now at Southend, the club managed by his dad, after leaving the Saints Academy, but Sainty says it was the promising young striker's own decision to go.

"We didn't want to lose him and he could have finished his scholarship here," said Sainty of 18-year-old Webb, who has played in Southend's first team.

Webb (pictured left) still had more than a year of his Academy scholarship to run but was allowed to join Third Division Southend initially on three months' work experience soon after his dad David began his second spell at Roots Hall.

"He went to Southend to have a look at the set-up and see what was best for him," said Sainty. "He was going to come back in March once his three months were over, but he decided not to."

Webb junior started four Under-19 games and was substitute in two others, scoring one goal in the process, but David claimed his son and other players were hedged out by Saints' policy of looking overseas for bright young talent.

"He and other English players weren't getting a fair chance," said Webb in a Sunday newspaper article.

"There were Italians, Portuguese and Australians, but I thought these academies were supposed to be breeding grounds for English players.

"He's a good footballer and, even if he wasn't my son, I would definitely play him," said Webb.

But Sainty dismissed Webb's claims. "David and I are good friends and, if that's how he sees it, that's up to him.

"We have our own way of working and we do what we think is best for the club.

"If it looks to outsiders that we're paying extra attention to the foreign lads, it's because their families are often thousands of miles away.

"But we don't recruit foreign players ahead of English ones."