BUSINESSES are set to cash in on Saints' FA Cup success by sharing a multi-million-pound windfall.

Experts have predicted the historic run to the final will net an incredible £10m to Southampton and the surrounding area.

Pubs are bracing themselves for queues from 9am for Saturday's showpiece match while supermarkets are stocking up on snacks and alcohol for stay-at-home fans.

Saints brand stock has been flying off the shelves at the city's two officials stores with 40,000 items sold in the past four weeks.

Chris Wotton, director of public relations firm Leepeckgreenfield and editor of the Saints Magazine, reckons it all adds up to an extra £10m for the city's coffers.

He said: "It's difficult to say exactly how much, but it's true to say that the FA Cup run has made an impact in the past few weeks, not just on regional business but on the people. They are enjoying being in a city that is a success. People are going out more, going to bars and restaurants - it's a feel-good factor.

"All this translates into people spending more money and helping drive the economy. The European factor would have less of an effect, although it depends how Saints are playing.

Tourism is a big factor, and when the opposition bring 3,000 of their fans, that's quite something.

"I would say, right across the board, it would have a £10m effect on the city and the region."

Senior lecturer at Southampton Institute's Business School, Dr John Harris, agrees the pay-off will be in the millions.

He said: "I think it is going to be excellent news for the city. It raises the profile in a positive way, in many ways it is an international profile and people often learn about places and develop a desire to go there through football. Sports tourism is becoming a very big area.

"There have also been studies done that show when a team like Newcastle United win, economic productivity shoots up the following week.

"I wouldn't like to guess exactly what it will mean but it will be millions."

The Walkabout pub in the High Street, Southampton, is expecting the biggest take in its four-year history.

Manager Rob Carruthers said: "I am expecting a massive queue out the front, a full house waiting outside when I open up. It will definitely be bigger than the World Cup.

"If we win, I am looking for the biggest take this bar has seen in four years. I expect the tills to be ringing all day and all night."

Tescos too has brought in piles of extra beer, pizza and snacks.

A spokesman said: "We have increased all our orders for beers, pizzas, snacks, peanuts and that sort of thing."

The boom has stretched right across Hampshire, with even the makers of blue and yellow dusters - the colours of Saints' away strip - reporting a huge boom in business.

Paul Tarrant of duster makers GSF Sandylight, of Nursling, said: "We've sold three times as many to Southampton sites, it's ridiculous. I think people are decorating their cars with them.

"We've never known anything like it."

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