SAINTS midfielder Flynn Downes has spoken out for the first time on his publicly fractured relationship with former manager Ivan Juric.
Downes was left out of the squad altogether for three matches in February last year, following rumours of a transfer bid from rivals Ipswich Town.
Juric, who was named boss to replace Russell Martin around a month earlier, claimed there was a "problem" with Downes and questioned his attitude.
Speaking at the time, Juric said: "It's a bad situation, I think that sometimes when a market window happens, things that you don't want happen.
"Now we have to think about how to resolve the problem, but I have to say I was a little bit disappointed. They do not do things correctly.
"What is important is to put on the T-shirt, go to the training and train hard. Then you can disagree with the coach, or with the club."
Downes has only spoken to the media a couple of times since then and addressed the saga for the first time this week, setting the record straight.
The 27 year old disputes the narrative pushed by Juric, and insists he never wanted to depart St Mary's to rejoin his former side - it was the opposite.
"No one has ever spoken to me about the Juric situation, but I’m as straight up as they come. We had a row on that pitch over there," said Downes.
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"I was like, ‘Well, the manager wants me to leave the club, I’ve got no chance, that’s it’. He came out in the press and said I was desperate to leave.
"I was never desperate to leave. We spoke to Ipswich, but it was my choice not to go. I didn’t say anything, and I got a bit of stick from the fans.
"But if the fans knew the story, they wouldn’t have. I thought, ‘everyone in the changing room and everyone I care about knows the truth’.
“Every time I put that shirt on, there’s no one who wants to win more than me. No one in a Saints shirt. So it did hurt me a little bit.
"It hurt me because no one knew what had happened, but that’s long gone now. It’s done, I let that go a long time ago.
“I feel like I’m a totally different person and player than two or three years ago. People say that experience is priceless, and it really is.
"Over the last couple of years, my views on the game have changed so much, and obviously working with so many different managers.
"I always felt that I had to have a really close connection with a manager to play well – that’s why, when I fell out with Juric, performances dropped.
"I had to look at that and be like, ‘Hold on, that doesn’t affect me'.
"If I don’t like the manager and don’t get on with them, it’s my responsibility to go on to the pitch and perform. But it used to be massive for me.
"I’m not saying I don’t with Tonda [Eckert] – we really get on – but I’ve taken a step back, look at myself and be like, 'Hold on, you’re here to do a job.'
"You’re here to win games of football, and that’s all that matters."
Downes, an £18million player, has made 109 appearances for Saints since he signed from West Ham on loan in 2023, with 43 of those coming this season.
