Saints fans will be able to get their hands on a new home shirt in four weeks time after the club confirmed the release date for the new strip will be Thursday, July 10.

The kit, which was worn for the first time in the final home game of last season against Bolton, will cost £40 for adults, £45 long sleeved, £30 for kids and £35 for youths sizes.

The club are still finalising the content of two end-of-season reviews on video and DVD.

They will be releasing a Premiership story of the season and a Road to Cardiff special which will feature not only highlights of the FA Cup final but also previous rounds and footage of the fans.

Former Saints boss Stuart Gray has been sacked as first team coach of Aston Villa.

Gray, along with Villa assistant manager John Deehan, has been removed from his position as new boss David O'Leary re-organises the backroom staff following his appointment to the Villa Park hotseat.

Graham Taylor, who resigned as Villa boss last month, employed Gray during the 2001/02 season after he had been sacked as Saints manager following a record of six wins, two draws and 11 defeats in 19 games in charge spanning two campaigns.

SAINTS defender Chris Baird is one member of the Northern Ireland first team squad asking for boss Sammy McIlroy to be awarded a longer contract.

Baird was handed his second senior squad in Wednesday's superb 0-0 Euro 2004 qualifying draw with Spain in Belfast.

And even though Ireland have gone 10 games without a win and haven't scored for 972 minutes, the players want McIlroy to stay.

Ex-Saints keeper Maik Taylor said: "Sammy is building a team that will have us in contention for qualifying for major tournaments in the future.

"I'd love to see him get a new contract from the Irish FA to see the job through."

Baird, described as "magnificent" by McIlroy against Spain, added: "Sammy is brilliant - his enthusiasm is infectious."