With the City Council saying that Southampton Football Club have not responded to their offer of staging an open top bus tour victory parade around the City it looks like Saints promotion wont be honoured.

Saints dont look likely to take up the City Councils offer of an open top bus parade, originally the Council planned to stage it on Sunday but with the season faltering a little plans were put on hold, which was perhaps a blessing in disguise given the awful weather on Sunday which would have subdued the celebrations somewhat, now unless the club recant then its not going to happen with the momentum lost.

There are those though that feel that an open top bus tour should be reserved for winning top trophies like the Premiership, FA Cup Carling Cup etc and not just merely gaining promotion, in 1978 the club didnt feel it necessary to have an open top parade to celebrate it and it seems that the current regime feel the same way.

The Club have announced that they will have a celebration in a giant marquee on the pitch on Sunday and this will perhaps scupper the last hopes of supporters of an open top parade, some fans have expresse disapointment at the Club for only allowing a lucky 50 season ticket holders drawn at random into the event, but it should be pointed out that although the Club's PR dept have made great store describing this as a Promotion Extravaganza, it is in fact really an event from the Club thanking its employees for the hard work they have put in this season, there is nothing wrong with that, the players take the plaudits but to enable them to play a lot of work goes on behind the scenes and its right that these people are thanked with an evening like this, however by bigging it up on the club website in such a way, it has rubbed up some fans the wrong way, especially those who wanted the club do do something very public and now feel excluded, I would say dont be, its not an event of the type you would like.

I hope that Saints do have an open top parade, only not this year, perhaps next year when it would be nice to not only celebrate a good season back in the premier, but by also winning one of the cups, then a open top bus parade would be fitting.

Photo: Action Images

simmo400 added 15:55 - May 1 Complete waste of time a bus tour. We all celebrated after the whistle, in the ground the only place to be.
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BLEEDRED added 16:03 - May 1 Can't think of anyone who would want a bus tour for coming second!!!
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eusebio added 17:04 - May 1 Good.....waste of time
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bstokesaint added 18:07 - May 1 Why can't we do what we did last year and have a special match? This allows everyone to applaud the players and staff. Only this time can we have one against the under 18s? Heard so much of them, but seen so little. Would like to see Ward-Prowse, Stephens and Shaw.
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DJI added 08:57 - May 2 What a good idea bstokesaint suggests; play an additional match so we can applaud the players and staff! Oh hang on, isn't that what the last game of the season is traditionally for? ;p I would be embarrassed if they had done an open top bus tour of the City as it is promotion, not winning a title that took place. And let's not forget, not all Saints fans live in the 'SO' postal code area; some of us live down near the M25 end of Hants. I get the euphoria of pitch invasions after gaining this promotion but to some, it seems it is part of the norm! There were 'fans' talking about it weeks before this weekend instead of focusing on the result needed. If that is the "Southampton Way" also, I'm not interested! I would like to see Saints do the traditional lap of honour at the last game of the season so all fans get the same exposure to them that those at the front of the pitch invasion get, and recognition that some of us are more than a short walk or bus ride from the Club, and it costs a lot of money to keep coming back down to Southampton! On the upside, I'm chuffed we gained promotion and will have no hesitation in renewing my Season Ticket. But I will be going to St Mary's to see my team play, not the opposition. I can only hope the 8k-10k of plastic fans do the same next season at all matches, not just those where there might be a party afterwards!

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bstokesaint added 12:26 - May 2 DJI you say "traditionally" like we get promoted every season. Last year the free match for the fans was put on so that the players could do the parade around the pitch and get the extra plaudits. My point was simply why can't we do both? And if so I'd rather see us showcase some of the Academy than the old boys, who as much as I have respect for, I have seen play before. Not many fans get to see the U18's play unless they are particular dedicated followers. As NA some of these kids will be our future. Most clubs getting back to the Premierhip will attract more fans. Personally I don't care who we're playing because I just enjoy see the Saints take on anyone home or away. At least we don't have the 20k "plastic fans" Reading will get every week. Where were they when Elm Park was their home..?

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