No Open Top Bus Tour !

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.

What to read next:

Southampton 2 - 3 Liverpool - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.

Will Saints Be Cast Adrift At The Bottom Before They Kick A Ball This Weekend
The Premier League table does not make good viewing unless you turn it upside down, Southampton are rock bottom 2 points adrift from the team above and 4 points off Ipswich 4th from bottom, so will that gap be worse before we kick off on Sunday.

Southampton V Liverpool The Preview
Usually the visit of Liverpool to The Dell & St Mary's was something that Saints fans looked forward to in the calendar, it was a game that often threw up a shock result for the home side, but as we go into the latest clash with the Merseyside men, there seems little hope of that this year.

Return Dates Set For Injured Southampton Duo Ramsdale And Bednarek
If you thought that things couldn't get worse for Russell Martin after the defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers, then think again, injuries to two key players in the past fortnight have added to his woes.

Do Southampton Need To Recall Bella-Kotchap For Liverpool Clash
With Jan Bednarek seemingly set to miss his first Premier League game of the season, Saints are struggling for central defenders to take on the League leaders Liverpool at St Mary's, is it time to bring in a player out of the cold.

Does Shea Charles Prove That Russell Martin's Player Judgement is Flawed
There has been a lot of words typed on the internet about Russell Martin and his tactics, but is this just the reason as to why we are doing badly in the Premier League, last season there was a clear evidence that his player selection is not what it should be.

Central Defensive Injury Blow For Southampton
If the next few weeks were going to be tough with the potential absence of goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, then they are now getting much worse with the news that a central defender has been injured in International duty over the weekend.

England England's Number 16
It was a dream England debut for Southampton's Taylor Harwood-Bellis, in front of his future Father in law ex Manchester United & Republic of Ireland legend Roy Keane, not only scoring but also nearly getting an assist.

Nick's Saints Saints Away Travel Lay On 6th Coach For Brighton
Brighton away was the first fixture Southampton fans looked for when they came out back in June so there was great disappointment when the game was switched to a Friday night as it means it's virtually impossible to get back on the train.

Saints Not Afraid Of Sacking Russell Martin Even If They Have To Pay
Recent reports have suggested that Southampton have not dispensed with the services of Russell Martin due to the alleged £12 million compensation cost. However it is now suggested that this is not the case and that if they do lose faith they are willing to pay the price.