RUPERT LOWE last night revealed that Saints are at a "reasonably advanced stage" in their efforts to make new signings.

The Saints chairman backed the view of manager Paul Sturrock that major changes to the squad were not necessary - but admitted the club did want to capture certain players.

"I can say it is a discussion that is constantly under debate," he said.

"Paul Sturrock and I had a meeting. We don't feel there needs to be wholesale changes to a squad which at Christmas was fourth.

"But there are one or two adjustments Paul would like to make. Through the scouting network we have identified several players.

"One or two of them are at a reasonably advanced stage and as soon as we have done something we will let people know. But we are on the case."

Lowe did not, however, say how much money was available for Sturrock.

The new Saints manager has also reiterated that he has not yet finalised his coaching team for next season.

There has been wide-spread speculation that Sturrock will bring former Plymouth colleagues John Blackley and Kevin Summerfield to St Mary's.

He said: "The chairman and I need to look at the coaching staff and the personnel for next year. There are things we will mull over.

"I want to assure the fans that we are not sitting on our hands at this minute in time.

"But I can't comment until I have debate with the chairman. Nothing has happened as far as the coaching staff is concerned."

Managing director Andrew Cowen, meanwhile, has announced plans to change the way tickets are made available to Saints fans travelling to away games.

"We are going to do things slightly different," he explained.

"We will give the away season-ticket higher profile. But if you can't get to every game, we will also be running a priority or ballot process for more games.

"If we do that we will have a way of rewarding fans who travel who are not prepared to make the investment in an away season-ticket.

"Say the Arsenal game is coming up, what we will do is look on the data-base and see who has attended the most games away games that season to date and give them preferential access to the tickets.

"If we have tickets left over after that we will go down the usual pecking order."