Printer-friendly pageFriday, June 13, 2008
Saints have announced a raft of cost cutting measures that include closing three corners of their St Mary's ground, axing subsided bus transport for fans and opening the stadium later on matchdays.
Football board chairman Michael Wilde has confirmed the plans and admits they may not prove popular but says they are necessary as the club looks to scale back costs and live within its means.
Around 700 season ticket holders will have to be moved as blocks 1-3, 12-14 and 36-39 are closed leaving the Chapel/Kinglsand which houses the Junior Saints and family sections as the only corner of the ground open unless there is a big demand for tickets.
The club are also set to asks the City Council for their approval to suspend the inclusion of subsidised bus travel in the club's transport plan.
Saints say this was originally included on the basis of anticipated gates of 30,000, but is no longer justified either on transport or cost grounds at the current gate levels. The dedicated shuttle bus service linking the stadium with central station and the ferry terminals will also be reduced for the same reasons.
The stadium is also set to open at 1.45pm on matchdays with a 3pm kick-off rather than 1.30pm.
The club estimate that these measures will save £250,000 a year.
