spyinthesky

Re Mayflower Park...This is a protected area, as are the local parks and covered by Legislation ie The Hampshire Act, so the Council cant 'develop' the space. That said money (if available) could be invested in the area to improve the area Re Royal Pier............This is the responsibility of ABP. The Council has no involvement in the Pier but has been trying to get ABP to do something. Unfortunately there have been at least three schemes proposed to develop the area around the Pier and improve/expand Mayflower Park but non of the developers were able to raise the money. Re Toys R Us.............There are/were plans in the pipeline to develop the area for Toys R Us through to Dock Gate 8. Once again the plans have not been progressed due to lack of developers money.

The possible rail Station/Halt at St Marys is an interesting one. I am no rail expert but the expenditure of at least £1m, possibly a fair bit more, would really only cater for between 19-23 games a year. It is highly unlikely, in my opinion, that the Station/Halt would be suitable for regular, non football related, services and with regard to the latter would trains on existing services from London (which are normally 10 carriages long) and Romsey/Salisbury be expected to call in off the main line via the branch line at Northam? After the game, there would undoubtedly be a rush to board the one train, of indeterminate carriage length, that potentially could be accommodated at the Station/Halt. Presumably the rail line from Northam is electrified. If not then this is another consideration. Years ago I remember there was a Station at Boothferry Park and there was a rail line behind Bolton's old ground at Burden Park. None of them survived.

You are correct. ABP own Town Quay and I believe also own the Freehold to the adjacent Red Funnel area so they will be working with the developers, Nicholas James Group, and the City Council, and presumably the Crown Estate, to advance the plan. Interestingly, I understand that Nicolas James (an ex Soton Uni student who has done very well as a property developer) has sold his interest in the Harbour Hotel at Ocean Village to assist with the challenging funding. I have also heard from decent sources that Red Funnel and ABP are looking at the possibility of transferring the Car Ferry Service over to Marchwood and ABP are actively looking at alternative sites for the aggregate business (Dibden Bay perhaps, but this would be years away). As far as I am aware a fair bit of the western Itchen River quayside land is either owned Freehold by private companies or are held on long term leases. If this assumption is correct then, whilst SCC and SFC may be keen to develop the land (which I think would be great) there are significant challenges in acquiring the land. I guess there is the possibility of SCC compulsory purchasing the land but this would take time and money.

Point of detail. ABP are the Harbour Authority so have legal authority to manage the waterside from Eling up to the end of Southampton Water. They also hold the freehold of the historically reclaimed from the sea by previous port companies dating back to 1835. However they have no interest in the land along the Itchen Riverside which includes the area around St Marys Stadium. They are likely to be working with the football club and the city council to find a home for the Aggregate Companies who currently operate on the quayside right outside the stadium.

I played a couple of Charity games with Ken Wagstaffe the old Hull City striker

Didnt the club pay Man City a £1m for the young 'keeper?

No hair nowadays due to the stress of watching Saints

Good info. Re the relegation clause in players contracts, a few years ago I used to get my hair cut at by barber who was best mates with one of the Saints players. He told me that his mate had a 50% reduced wages clause in his contract. Whether that applies to all players I'm not sure but I would hope that it does. I remember years ago, prior to the Premier League, I think, Bristol City got promoted and then relegated in short order but they had to continue paying top wages to their players and that caused all sorts of financial issues which took years to overcome.

Wasnt that before the semi final v Everton at Highbury when he played half fit. We had enough chances to win that game anyway and would have been favourites to beat Watford in the final.

I believe the picture of the packed Milton Rd end was taken at Mick Channons Testimonial game v QPR the Monday after we beat Man Utd in the FA Cup Final

Looks like Russ has got the Rangers gig. Good luck to him.

Luton paid £2.5m to Blackburn Rovs for him.

All I bit different to when I signed on for Saints as an amateur when Ted Bates was the First Team Manager. That year there was the option to participate in open trials at the old CPC ground at Rownhams House. We all got to play around 15 mins or so. About a dozen of us were asked to sign on to turn out for the 'A' and 'B' sides who played in Hampshire Leagues 1 and 3 respectively. I ended up in the 'A' team with quite a few Apprentices, as they were called then, who went onto play in the First Team & Reserves.

I have been told on good authority that he has recently bought a house on the western outskirts of Southampton. Bearing in mind he seems to be a home bird, as assumed after his exit from Chelsea, he may be here next season.

'Selling him for parts' if he doesnt make it. Love the analogy.

I watched the programme and it was so sad for the people affected. Brought home to me that there were 4 of us sat in that stand when we played Bradford City in the 6th Rd game in 1976.

I've paid up. More to do with maintaining the seat I have had from the first season at SMS (the only one of the gang of 5 who moved over from the East Stand Lower) rather than anticipation of a load of wins from a free scoring team.

I guess it is not only buys that will make or break next season but bringing in a couple of useful loans from Prem teams. I guess we have exhausted our association with Man City after paying over the top fees for their 'emerging talent' and Saturdays performance may not have endeared Pep and Co

My thoughts on today. On the way to St Marys the feeling was similar to a visit to the dentist expecting treatment with no pain control. First half we just sat back and tried to absorb Man City pressure which they exerted in the expectation that one goal would open the floodgates. Second half we were in the game a bit more and actually got over the half way line a couple of times.. Panic defending was the order of the day and the tactic of relieving pressure by kicking into touch was often the only option. Fair play to the team, particularly the defenders who put their bodies in the way on several occasions. Ramsdale and Fernandes did their bit, as ever, and I thought Welington deserves mention as do Downes and also Bree who is an average Championship full back but did OK against talented players on this flank. I thought Aribo contributed a bit when he came on. As a team we were completely non existent as a forward threat and this is a big worry. I think we all left the ground with a bit of a smile on our collective faces but, apart from the players showing a good deal of commitment, the team were miles away from being a reasonably decent Premiership team. Well done to the Saints fans for turning up in numbers and getting behind one of the worst performing teams that I can remember.

I am sure I read somewhere a report that a group of well heeled US Catholics had been over in Rome recently making representations to elect the first US Pope. Could be a co-incidence?

I guess a trade deal may well be good for our country but sucking up to Trump does leave a nasty smell in the air.

I am very lucky. My GP is great and the Surgery, in quite a challenging area, is highly rated and I am also fortunate to have a very good NHS Dentist. However I pay a small fortune for Private Health Care which has proved worthwhile when my wife and I have had to have surgery. We prioritise health care over expensive holidays and flash cars and try to live a relatively healthy life style, notwithstanding a bit more alcohol consumption than is probably good for me - a consequence of the crap football at SMS this season!! Not every one feels the same way re comparative health arrangements, of course.

I guess in normal times a lot of English & European fans, myself included, would be interested in going to the USA for World Cup games. Games in Canada and Mexico might be an option but trying to overcome the challenges of US Immigration and other decisions that $Trump makes along the way will surely put off a lot of people.

Hope that's true