Saints opening home game of the season against the men from Old Trafford has been selected for live TV , this is a game that always sells out and with so much negative feeling around football at the moment this will be a barometer as to how Covid 19 will affect attendances in the coming season.

Football is heading for a crisis, whilst the likes of Liverpool & Manchester United have season ticket waiting lists that can take years for people to get a season ticket, a situation that means that their supporters have to renew their season tickets or risk hardly seeing their team play ever again, as there is such a waiting list of people willing to take their place, but the majority of club's including Saints do not have that luxury.

Saints fans and most of there supporters of clubs not only in the Premier League but the lower divisions as well can opt in and out of being season ticket holders from season to season and with attending games next season still uncertain many seem to be opting to wait and see before committing to a season ticket.

The news that Saints game against Manchester United will now take place on Sunday 22nd August, 2pm , live on Sky, a day later than originally scheduled, might not be good news for the club.

Many Saints fan may now opt out of buying tickets for that game, football supporters seem to be sick of the constant changing of times for TV and the recent European Super League debacle has not helped and this is going to impact on attendances at all clubs , although I have to say that for most club's the impact of TV times on attendances seems to be selective depending on the form of the team.

This is going to be a season like no other and in some respects reminds me of the changes we saw in the 1980's back then crowds dropped as traditional fan bases walked away from the game due to several factors, not least the crowd trouble prevalent at the time.

Back then it was said the game was dying, but it reinvented itself and by the early 1990's was booming again, that boom period has lasted for over 25 years, but it looks likely that we are due a downturn now.

The big question though is can football with full stadiums still be maintained or will it become a thing of the past, have Sky TV finally won the war they began in the 1990's, will it now become the sport for armchair fans.

Photo: Action Images

halftimeorange added 09:43 - Jun 19 The loss of the Saturday afternoon traditional three o'clock kick-off, high prices, a currently under-performing national team and TV flooded with live games and highlights, plus Covid-19 and Brexit-related poverty, will surely take their toll on the coming season's attendances. I've retained my ST at St Marys but, I have to say that I have not enjoyed the past few seasons, the thrill of anticipation just isn't there but, I am a diehard football supporter and, should things not change at saints, I will seriously consider watching Eastleigh where I can have the best seat, a good meal before the game and a few beers for the same money and not be swamped by regular doses of media exaggeration. The quality might not be the same but, the value for money should be.

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Colburn added 12:59 - Jun 19 To be quite Frank. TV is just one reason that fans may not return. I've been a fan for over 40 years and always will be but will not buy a ticket again for some time.. Firstly I am a customer now, not a fan. Secondly, nobody seems to care about the unethical advertising for gambling which can cause misery for many and thirdly, the attitude of those taking high wages. I will never go back after the disgraceful incident I experienced with Nathan Redmond whilst driving near the central station. This was around the time of the suicide of my daughter and to experience what I did from someone paid like him, in the city of the team he plays for, put an end to my ticket buying days, and his attitude that day is mirrored on the pitch. I hope he is sold soon and then I will reconsider buying tickets again but never while he is at the club. He is a disgrace. So it's not just TV Nick..

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Block8 added 18:57 - Jun 19 Neither TV or the Premier league have any consideration for attending fans, Newcastle to us on New Years Day is testament to this. I had a lengthy discussion, via emails, with the PL on this subject, particularly away support and the problem late changes in fixtures cause. I asked if they, alongside TV companies, could perhaps avoid playing games on a Sunday & especially Monday where travel to or from the fixture was complicated or costly fares and hotel costs were lost! they replied they would look at the proposal, Newcastle away to us on New Years Day proves how seriously they considered!😂🤣😂

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mattthelegend added 19:38 - Jun 19 All during lockdown, you would hear ”football is nothing without the fans” and during the Euros “ football is so much better now the fans have returned “ now it looks like football is returning to normal so does the old attitude, moving games around already. They don’t care about us the paying fan, never have and never will.AMF.
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Crispinmumbles added 21:33 - Jun 19 Sick of Corporate Football. Hateful owners and the utter sneering disrespect shown to fans by those running the club. This used to be a working class sport and cost the same as going to the Cinema more or less. Now it's £46 and some of the half-arsed football just makes it very poor value for money! They abuse our loyalty to engorge themselves and I won't go back until Gao has gone!

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barry_sanchez added 22:24 - Jun 19 People have had a gutful of a club with low aspiration and more depressingly one that has never set out its goals and objectives, why should they spend their money on uncertainty if they're treated as a customer?
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