Dave Jones this week spoke to the Southampton match programme in an interview that can be read in full at our Championship match with the Saints on Saturday.

In the interview, Dave talked about the opening fixture and win over the Saints, saying, "You always want to win your first game but it was a hard match for us. We scored in the last minute, but Southampton did well and put up a good fight. Fortunately we sorted it out in the end, though I was impressed with a lot of Saints' players on the day though."

That occasion was the only time Jones met former Head Coach Jan Poortvliet and this weekend's fixture will see him meet his replacement for the first time.

"I've not met Mark Wotte before, but I'm looking forward to it and maybe having a cup of tea with him before the game," the Bluebirds boss revealed. "I only met Jan Poortvliet when he came to Cardiff on the first day of the season and he seemed like a good football man who was dedicated to the job, but unfortunately he's gone now. The games I saw of him though I have to say that I think he had his back up against the wall a bit and tried to work a very difficult job with little or no money available to him."

Despite leaving The Dell nine years ago, the 52-year old still keeps up to date with the goings on at St. Mary's thanks to his local connections.

"My daughter still lives down there and I've still got some friends in the area who are Saints supporters and let me know what's going on from time to time. When you've been somewhere for three years and you've had a good time there it's always nice to hear what's happening, but it's been difficult to look at the club's current predicament.

"I'm never surprised by anything in this division because it is such a tough league and there are a lot of good teams who are currently fighting for their lives. Sometimes you wonder why they are in trouble, but there will always be a reason and, to be fair, it's not my problem because I've got enough of my own!"

Jones left Southampton in 2000 after a three year spell in charge but still holds fond memories of his time with the Saints.

"There was one year during my time when we staved off relegation and it was fantastic. I've got nothing except admiration for the fans and when I went through some of the problems that I had, the majority of the supporters were behind me and I won't ever forget that."

To read more of this Dave Jones interview, be sure to pick up a copy of the Saints match programme on saturday. In the interview he talks about the similarities between his current club and the Saints side that he managed in the Premier League.