Saints chairman Rupert Lowe has received an unlikely Christmas present from Portsmouth counterpart Milan Mandaric - a dead duck.

The festive bird, still feathered and not frozen, arrived in a festive box at St Mary's yesterday.

It was signed for by a member of staff before being passed on to Lowe.

The Saints chairman is reported to be unsure as to the sentiment behind the fowl arrival.

Sources at Portsmouth suggest it is a peace offering from Mandaric, but with a tounge-in-cheek feel.

Mandaric said earlier this month that Lowe had gone duck hunting at a time when the Pompey chairman was trying to tie up a compensation package to secure Harry Redknapp's return.