Darius Cox has rejoined childhood club Southampton Rangers from Robin Hood, the Premier Division champions.

The former Bermuda defender explained why he returned to his roots at Southampton Oval.

“I just felt it was time to give back to the club that got me started playing football in the first place,” Cox said. “Rangers is my boyhood club and it’s time to give back to the people that love me the most.

“I played at Rangers as soon as I was able to kick a ball and left in my early teens to go to Boulevard.

“Rangers have been asking me for the last five years to come back and I have also stayed in the neighbourhood for about three years now.”

The 34-year-old spent five seasons at Boulevard before joining Devonshire Cougars, where his career really took flight with a string of league and cup titles.

He guided Hood to their maiden top-flight title last term and had initially planned to remain at the club after recovering from leg surgery before opting for late transfer.

“It was definitely a tough decision to make,” said Cox, who will be eligible to play for Rangers when the late transfer window opens on November 15. “I will always love the Premier Division and miss it. But hopefully I can help Rangers come up next year and do something for my own club.

“I have won trophies for every other club besides my own club that got me started playing football.”

Cox’s start to the season was delayed after having leg surgery.

“I got injured years ago playing for Cougars but never took care of it properly and decided now is the time before I get too old,” he said.

“I tore a muscle in my leg by my hip and it then had calcium build-up, so leaving it for three years a bone ended up growing in my leg that wasn’t supposed to be there.”

Cox is now training with Rangers, who are fifth in the First Division, three points adrift of leaders BAA.

“I have been doing fitness and trained with them three times just to see how my leg feels and it feels fine,” he said.

“It’s a fun group of guys and as soon as November 15 comes, I am raring to go.

“Rai Sampson has gone up there [from North Village] and he is a good defender. He said he likes watching me play and does the diagonal passing I do and so it’s going to be fun to work with him.

“I also have never worked with Jomar [Rangers coach Jomar Wilkinson] before, so that’s going to be something new to me as well.”