JERSEY soccer ace Graeme Le Saux went back to his roots with St Paul’s FC this week.

England World Cup star Le Saux, who is in Jersey filming for the BBC programme Working Lunch, played for the Saints from the age of 11.

He was the star guest at a club meal on Tuesday night at the Hotel Ambassadeur and answered questions from players past and present.

The former Match of the Day pundit and commentator was asked, at the dinner, why he quit that post before the World Cup; in reply he explained that there had been ‘a clash of personalities’.

However, he was not prepared to name names.

He said that Gianfranco Zola was the best player he had ever played with and joked that Billy Richardson – who was captain and man of the match in the 1987 Muratti alongside the former Chelsea, Blackburn and Southampton star – was the worst.

Le Saux, a former D’Hautrée and Hautlieu student, was asked if he would like to be Island manager.

In reply he joked that Peter Vincenti’s job was safe, as Jersey’s most famous footballer said that to qualify he ‘would need some coaching badges,’ which he does not have.

He did, however, spend some time coaching St Paul’s under-10s and talking to Charlie Browne’s learning difficulties’ squad, and he said that he plans to do more of the same in future, now he has more time on his hands.

Browne, who stood for JFA vice president in last night’s agm, said: ‘I’ve know Graeme for over 20 years and he’s never changed.

‘He is great guy and is superb with the children.

At first they were a bit in awe of him, but when they started doing little exercises they were shouting his name to call for the ball.

This is the first time we’ve seen him since he retired and it was lovely to see his beaming face.’ Paul Sowney, who organised the meal, said: ‘I have been to a lot of these functions with ex-players and I’m not being biased – but Graeme is the best speaker I have ever seen.

‘It was unbelievable how he put himself across.

He was both funny and humble.’ The man who won the Premiership with Blackburn in 1995 thanked everybody at St Paul’s for all their help in developing him as a player.

Le Saux said the most influential person in his footballing career was his father, Pierre, who has been, for many years, instrumental in helping St Paul’s develop young players.