DELL legend Ron Davies has had further reason to thank Saints fans.

The former Welsh international is booked in for a hip operation near his New Mexico home in April of this year.

Saints fans have so far helped raise around £15,000 for Davies through the Give it to Ron' campaign launched in October.

Fans from Davies' previous clubs Chester and Norwich have also donated, and monies are still coming in - even though the initial £10,000 target was reached before Christmas.

Some of that money will now be used to pay for urgent dental treatment for Davies.

Such treatment is needed before surgeons will go through with the hip operation for fear of infection.

An anonymous Southampton-based Saints fan has offered to pay half the cost of Davies' four-figure dental bills.

James Wallace, from the Give it to Ron campaign, said: "Ron, despite the discomfort from his hip, is in good spirits.

"He should be a lot better towards the end of April after his operation.

"I wouldn't say he will be leaping like a salmon, like he used to at The Dell, but he should be able to move around a lot more freely."

Wallace said there is a chance that Davies and his wife Chris could be invited over to Hampshire later this year.

His visit could co-incide with the launch of Davies' former Saints colleague and fellow Dell idol Terry Paine's autobiography.

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