RONALD Koeman has done little to remedy the hurt over his departure from Saints by hinting he was told he could not just see out the final year of his contract.

Koeman's version of events leading up to his departure at St Mary's are at odds with what Saints believe took place.

They felt that they enjoyed productive conversations with Koeman over his future following the end of last season, and were in negotiations over a new deal optimistic he would commit to Saints for a further two years, However, when Koeman returned from holiday he had changed agent and the groundwork was laid for his move to Everton.

Koeman held his first press conference since taking over at Goodison Park yesterday, and described a very different version of events leading up to his move from St Mary’s.

He said: “I keep it short because I think the most important always is to look forward and not to look back, not in life and not in football.

“I had after the season the meeting with the board of the club, Les Reed, and the first option was to go in my last, third year of contract and that was not possible.

“I said I can do that and we will what happens in my last year of contract, but there was no way was to sign a new contract and we did not agree.

“Through that whole story Everton was showing that kind of interest and, ok, Southampton gave me the permission to talk to Everton and I am the new Everton manager and that is all what I like to say about Southampton.

“Thanks to them, we had two fantastic seasons, thanks to the players, thanks to the staff, to the fans, but I’m in Everton now.”

Saints fans have been concerned that Koeman, armed with a large transfer kitty at Everton, may come calling for some of his St Mary’s stars.

Koeman certainly was careful not to rule it out, but did realise it would cause more problems.

“I don’t know. It’s difficult,” he reflected.

“Of course I like most of the players, but ok we will see what happens.

“Maybe it’s better I don’t make more fights with them.”

Koeman sighted his ambition to achieve bigger and better things as a reason for taking over at Everton and insisted: “It’s always more ways to get that next step in a big club and everybody knows the club better than I know, but very lovely from the beginning when I meet the people here in Everton.

“It seems everybody is hungry, the people in the club, the fans, to come back and put Everton in the place where Everton needs to stay."