Saints have announced a pair of pre season friendlies against foreign opposition at St Mary's with season ticket holders getting in free to both games.
The statement from the club reads as follows.
"Southampton Football Club will host Celta Vigo and Borussia Mönchengladbach in a pair of home friendly matches this summer, with 2018/19 Season Ticket holders getting free entry to both games!
The visit of the two major European sides will come as Mark Hughes’s team put the finishing touches on their preparations for the new Premier League campaign.
Saints will welcome La Liga outfit Celta Vigo to St Mary’s first, on Wednesday 1st August, with kick-off set for 7.45pm BST.
The visit of Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach will then follow on Saturday 4th August, with kick-off at 3pm BST.
Saints’ clash with the German top-flight opposition will come one week before the new Premier League campaign begins with a home fixture against Burnley.
Ticket details for both home friendly games will be released in due course.
The club is also pleased to announce it is enhancing its offer to 2018/19 Season Ticket holders, by giving them a free ticket to both games, rather than just one home pre-season match, as an appreciation for their support ahead of the new campaign.
Details of how to redeem this offer will follow alongside other ticket information."
Whilst some will moan that this is scant reward for last season's poor performances at St Mary's and I have already stated I feel that the club should have done more in the way of price cuts for season ticket holders, this offer from the club should not be sneered at.
Yes perhaps it doesn't go far enough in trying to re engage with supporters after the last 18 months or so, but it is a big step in the right direction and the club should not be lambasted for at least trying to do something.
Hopefully this will not be the last initiative aimed at not only rewarding those who have paid out big money for season tickets, but trying to attract both new supporters as well as trying to bring back a few of those who have not renewed their season tickets this season.