SAINTS players will be touring the city the day after the FA Cup final - but only if they beat Arsenal.

Southampton City Council is finalising plans for an open-top bus tour of the city centre on Sunday, May 18.

With the players and management aboard, the tour would begin and end at St Mary's Stadium, starting at 3pm.

The tour route has yet to be decided, but it is expected that the bus would stop off outside the Civic Centre where the team would be greeted by the mayor, Councillor Brian Parnell.

Police leave for the weekend has been cancelled, although Hampshire Constabulary will not know for sure whether they will be needed to provide security until less than 22 hours before the parade.

Saints, whose players will be staying overnight in Cardiff after the final and returning to Southampton on Sunday lunchtime, have said the team will parade for the fans only if they win. There are no plans for a celebration should they lose.

A council spokesman said: "If Saints win the Cup, then there will be an open-top bus tour around the city centre, starting from St Mary's at 3pm and stopping off at the Civic Centre.

"The football club, police and council are in discussion about the route which we will publicise next week."

In 1976, after Saints' 1-0 win over Manchester United, an estimated crowd of 200,000 greeted manager Lawrie McMenemy and his side when they paraded the FA Cup. That was followed by a civic reception when the players gathered on the Guildhall balcony.

Portsmouth players will be attending a civic reception at their Guildhall on Sunday to mark being crowned Division One champions.

They will then be leaving on a vintage open-top bus around the city arriving at Southsea Common where the players will be introduced to the crowd.

The Daily Echo Roadshow will be at the Asda store in the Marlands Shopping Centre, Southampton, today from 12pm to 4.30pm, giving away yellow and blue FA Cup wigs, balloons and the Echo for £1.50. The Roadshow will be visiting Asda in Eastleigh on Monday from 12pm to 4.30pm.