One thing that hasn't been changed in the new administration is the fact that bizarrely season ticket sales are ending long before the season actually starts.

The deadline for new season ticket sales for the 2014/15 season ends this Saturday July 12th, after that no more season ticket applications will be accepted.

Given the trauma of the last couple of months and the fact that the feelgood factor of the Ronald Koeman era is yet to kick in, I think there is a strong case for the club to re think their strategy on this one and at least extend the deadline.

If a football club wants to build up a hard core of support that means that it is less reliant on form on the pitch and one off events for increases/decreases in crowds then it is essential that it has a strong core of season ticket holders.

The reality of the situation is that Brighton have more season ticket holders than us for the coming season and they have achieved this through not only competitive pricing but spreading the cost making it easy to be a Brighton season ticket holder and making it harder not to let the ticket go, as instead of renewing each year you have to effectively resign your position as it renews automatically.

So for Saints to shut down sales some six weeks before the first home game of the season is baffling, surely we would want to use this period to not only encourage a few who haven't taken up their ticket from last season to renew, but also to attract new supporters to a season ticket, something that might well happen as Saints make some hopefully exciting new signings.

Our old Chairman was not keen on season tickets, he apparently could not see why Saints should want to sell a ticket cheaper to a supporter just because they were willing to pay for it well in advance, he thought that the privilege of having the same seat should have been enough.

Saints are now going through choppy waters, some supporters bailed at the first sign of a crisis, perhaps most in a knee jerk reaction, in the coming weeks many will start to see the Koeman era building, we should give them every opportunity to come back and commit to every home game.

Over the first two seasons in the Premier league our commercial income was well below just about every other club, breaching that gap is not going to be easy, what business turns away customers who are willing to commit to buying its services for the next year and pay now, I can't think of many offhand.

So come on Southampton Football Club, a new era is about to begin, lets try to get as many fans as possible there to witness it.

Photo: Action Images

dirk_doone added 15:17 - Jul 9 Good article, Nick. I agree with you.
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thedelldays added 11:45 - Jul 10 I thought season ticket dealines so early was down to Cortese? is this getting out club back?
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Whatsforpud added 12:44 - Jul 10 Not only should Season Tickets be sold right up to the day before the first home league match, but they should later be available for the second half of the season. There is surely quite a few of the better-off able to buy them for family members as Christmas presents. A business should be seeking maximum sales.
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Whatsforpud added 16:27 - Jul 10 Just seen the Saints website. They are suggesting this is a temporary pause in sales, with season tickets being available later.
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