Telfer almost quit football

The Scotsman admits he was ready to go back-packing in Australia before Strachan came calling in October 2001.

Telfer was returning to fitness at the time with Coventry City after breaking his leg and was contemplating a 12-month hiatus from the game.

The 31-year-old concedes he was prepared to quit The Sky Blues and jet off Down Under until Strachan gambled on his fitness by enticing him to St Mary's.

"I was all set to take a year off and go to Australia last October (2001) when Gordon Strachan rang and asked what I was doing," Telfer told Southampton's matchday programme.

"It was a difficult time for me because I had broken my leg in the penultimate game of the previous season and I was only just coming back to fitness.

"I was on a Bosman and was going to stay at Coventry but they could not afford to keep me and most other clubs had already got their players in at the start of the season.

"Bolton wanted me but I was not really ready. I needed games to build up my confidence and fitness and it looked as though no-one was prepared to gamble on a player who had a broken leg."

Telfer hopes to play in Australia when he decides the time is right but is grateful to Saints chief Strachan for resurrecting his Premiership career.

He added: "When I finish here - hopefully in a few years' time - I will probably go and play in Australia which would give my wife a chance to look at the place and see if she likes it.

"Looking at how things are going now, it is hard to believe that I was going to go there just over a year ago.

"Thankfully, Gordon knows me and had faith in me. He rang me up and invited me down to have a look round."