Chris Perry, who turns 35 in April, has joined the South Coast club until the end of the season, as emergency cover for defender Andrew Davies, who is sidelined with a fractured cheekbone. He will go straight into the Southampton squad that faces Cardiff City on Saturday. The Southampton manager Nigel Pearson described Perry as 'a tough campaigner and a good pro', which he has certainly kept quiet this season at least.
Perry has played 44 matches this season at both centre-back and right-back, scoring one goal against Nottingham Forest in the process. He hasn't really made a great impact at Luton, being overshadowed in defence by Fojut, Coyne and Keith Keane in his time at Luton, and his departure for the rest of the season is a clear signal for things to come next season. With no recognised centre-backs now at the club, Mick looks like he has finally given up on survival for next season, although someone like Beavan would probably do just as well as Perry anyway, if not better. It looks like Perry will be out of the squad for next season with this move, so hopefully when we leave administration we can sign a defender who actually looks reasonably tall enough to play as a defender.
The move means that The Don and Keith Keane will be first choice centre-backs for the rest of the season, not that it matters much really.