HERE'S wishing the Saints the best of luck - signed, sealed and delivered.

Southampton is sending its best wishes to the Saints ahead of their biggest day in 27 years, the FA Cup final.

The whole city, including the Daily Echo, has been invited to send a personal message of good luck to the team ahead of their cup final showdown with Arsenal on May 17.

Representatives from leading sponsors of Saints' FA Cup run, including Stewart Dunn, regional managing director of Newsquest, owners of the Daily Echo, joined city mayor Brian Parnell yesterday to sign a giant good luck card, which will be delivered to the team.

Mr Parnell, who will be in Cardiff to cheer on the team, said: "We want to get in positive spirits after the defeat to Arsenal the other evening.

"We are the underdogs but maybe we will pull the rabbit out of the hat and win."

"It's a big day for the city and we're very proud of the team.

He was remaining tight-lipped about his prediction for the score. "Any thought of the scoreline has to remain in my head but I did get it right for the semi-final," he said.

From today people will be able to wish the team good luck by leaving their own personal messages in books stationed at points around the city. Libraries, leisure centres, civic buildings, the city information office and WestQuay will all house the good luck books.

All the messages will be delivered to the team along with the card next Tuesday as they warm up for their date with destiny.

Mr Dunn said: "We wish them all the best and we are very proud to be associated with the club's success so far in reaching the final."

Bacardi-Martini marketing director Maurice Doyle said: "We are all very excited and wish them all the best in the final."

Andrew Barker, managing partner of Eric Robinson Solicitors, did not want to predict the outcome but added: "We are very pleased that Saints have got this far and it's nice to be associated with the winning team."

Meanwhile Barratt Homes managing director Steven Wilks was confident of a 3-2 victory for Saints. "It's a one-off game so I think we can win 3-2. It's tremendous for the city," he said.