Southern explains why he chose to join Fleetwood Town
Keith Southern says he has joined Fleetwood Town to be ‘part of something special’ as preparations for life in Sky Bet League One got underway this week.
The 33-year-old former Blackpool midfielder became Graham Alexander’s second summer signing following Town’s promotion from League Two last season.
Southern met his Fleetwood team mates for the first time this week as the gruelling pre-season period got started for the Cod Army and Southern, who left Huddersfield Town at the end of the season, admitted he was ‘itching’ to return to action.
Speaking to the Club’s official website, Southern said: “Everyone from the outside looking in can see the progress the Club have made over a short period of time and I wanted to be of it.
“Even at this stage of my career, I’m ambitious and I want to be part of something special and this Club seems to have the bug, it seems to be moving forward very quickly. I wanted to be part of that and that was the main ambition.
“The Club has got massive momentum going into a new league, a fresh league with some very big teams in, so I’m really looking forward to it.
“It’s onwards and upwards, it’s exciting times and we can look forward to a really good season.
“I can’t wait to get started. I was itching over the last few weeks to get back in. I know the area pretty well, I know this training ground pretty well because Blackpool trained here in previous seasons. It won’t take me too long to settle in.
“I didn’t play as much as I would have liked last season at Huddersfield and it whetted my appetite to be playing and be part of something special.
“I have an opportunity to do that and now it’s up to me to get into the team and hopefully stay there.”
After Southern left Huddersfield at the end of the season, Graham Alexander, the Fleetwood manager, moved swiftly to try and secure the services of the holding midfielder.
And following that chat, Southern admits that he shares the same ‘hunger and desire’ as Alexander and said the offer to return to the Fylde Coast was one he could not refuse.
“The manager contacted my agent and I met him before he went on holiday and we had a good chat just about football and the direction the Club was moving in.
“He wanted to meet me and speak to me about how hungry I was and I explained that I was so hungry to carry on playing at a good level and I have a desire to win games of football.
“I had one or two bits of interest, but this was too good to turn down.
“The manager had a great playing career, he played at the highest level for many years, played a lot of games and he knows what it takes for a modern footballer to get the best out of themselves.
“I’m really excited. He’s hungry, just as much as I am, and I am sure the rest of the lads are to impress in this league. He has a promotion under his belt and I am sure he will want another.”