Beattie nets new Saints deal

SOUTHAMPTON striker James Beattie has signed a new contract which will tie him to the Barclaycard Premiership club until 2006.

Beattie, scorer of 16 top-flight goals this season, put pen to paper on his new deal yesterday after discussions with Saints chairman Rupert Lowe.

The 24-year-old, whose previous deal was set to expire in 2005, said the arrivals of David Prutton, from Nottingham Forest, and Danny Higginbotham, from Derby, before the transfer window closed last week helped him to sign.