JRM

Was going to say they've opened a new train station a bit nearer the ground that's on the Basingstoke to Reading line , not much use if there's no trains though

Can you use the credit towards other home games like pre seasons and cup games? Agree seems unnecessary to restrict it like that but might be an option if you were going to go to other games anyway

Still a few days to the renewal deadline, anyone know how many we've sold? Been sent this by a skate at work, they have such a conceited fanbase gushing with self congratulation about how many tickets they've sold , surely we'll exceed this by quite a bit? https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/portsmouth-fc/portsmouth-chiefs-surprise-as-remarkable-fratton-faithful-power-towards-season-ticket-sell-out-five-weeks-before-league-one-start-4198492?fbclid=IwAR18vl5h3kiUMZYBfbgxu8_sNjA3QJ76e5m9SDYurknDh5xz6r-7EgbheG0

What will we do without him? Big hole to fill

My understanding is the home side often pay an appearance fee to the away team (probably based on expected ticket sales + benefit to their players of having the fixture) , I doubt Saints will want to pay much , most likely a unfashionable name with agreement to share some gate receipts (after costs) In some ways the Bournemouth game makes sense as they have no travel or hotel costs and unlikely to command much of a fee, will add a couple of thousand to what will likely be a small crowd

It's behind closed doors venue, seems strange Saints not mentioning it.

Feels like they're on course for a points deduction , not exactly a job you'd want to make your name as a manager. Need a takeover but no idea if that's happening, could be a nice stadium in league two

Think he still have two years on his Newcastle contract

Reading FC have announced that recently departed Southampton manager Rubén Sellés is set to sign a contract and become the first-team manager of the Royals. His appointment is subject to the club’s successful application for a work visa, which was submitted at the end of last week. Meanwhile Reading have been issued a winding-up petition by HMRC, the latest in a long line of financial issues, they are already on the EFL Embargo Service for paying wages late in three separate months last season in which the club have until Thursday to respond. Facing the prospect of another season unable to spend money on players, and with only 13 registered first-team players on the books you would think Rubén is hoping he's work visa gets knocked back

So we'd have ended up there regardless of promotion (so no point in our promotion?)

Let me tell you a story about when we played the Cherries just a couple of months ago. They beat us at St Mary's to great delight of their travelling fans , walking back to the station the group in front of me giving it the big one "oh when the Saints go championship" and "scummers get battered everywhere they go", barging into normal Saints fans who were just making their way home. Seemed like they'd attracted the attention they wanted later as saw a few of them getting chased by Saints up by the civic centre. Just hassle we could do without.

Its a chance for us to watch plucky championship Saints against Premier league opposition, hopefully they bring all their star players

Saturday 22nd July - Reading away Tuesday 25th July - Bournemouth home - don't think this is a great choice to be honest, would rather just play them behind closed doors

Would be a very good addition if that's correct, brings lots of experience

Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday, Sunderland will all bring the full lot despite the distance (Leeds whenever, other two as long as a Saturday) I think QPR will they always like bringing big numbers down, as will Millwall if doing well. Bristol City brought the whole bit last time we played them, Birmingham City, Coventry, Ipswich, Plymouth, Watford all could fill it if doing well.

Not sure if ccfc is Cardiff or Coventry but I know both of those have made more tickets available to teams with bigger followings. I expect most of our away games will make it to general sale Any idea how many season tickets have been sold? Going to be some big crowds in the division next season, Sunderland have sold over 32,000 season tickets, Norwich / Leeds have a waiting list for theirs, Leicester will probably average 30k, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, sheff wed will be high 20k crowds.

Good luck , we do need more atmosphere all around the ground . Should be good availability up there so opportunity for those who want to to get tickets easy enough even game by game

Think they do, they have only been allowed free transfers for a while and still got deducted points last season for not complying with football league imposed finance plan

We did, May Bank Holiday in our first season in league one I think, remember drinking in Rochester I think, that seemed a nice place, left the game early with the rain don't think we had anything to play for?

It's not it's the 'B' team aka u21s

E I e I e I o up the football league we go When we get promotion This is what we'll sing We are southampton We are southampton Martin is our king

That away end might be more bearable in August, can't believe they're still using the scaffolding stand after all these years , plenty big away allocation so more than enough to go round

Completely agree , lots to look forward to there, but then again I tend to enjoy trips to Hillsborough more than Old Trafford personally. Would be nice to know the tv games sooner to book travel, Plymouth away South Coast derby will be nice down there in the sun, shame they tend to give small away allocations

Agree, completely behind Martin, we desperately need a good start and get some more positivity around the club, on the face of it this appointment is uninspiring so he'll need to win the fans over. He's definitely an interesting character with his Buddism, green party, veganism. I think pre season will be up and down as players leave before we make some new signings , hard for Wilcox to plan until we know which players we'll actually receive decent offers for, got to try to use loan market wisely.

Absolutely guest of honour, Stevie G doing the coin toss in the centre circle pre-match , half and half Scarf