IF YOU want to get to and from the new Saints stadium with the least possible trouble - then get on yer bike.

That's the message from a detailed transport plan approved by Southampton City Council shortly before the St Mary's Friends Provident Stadium opens its doors for business.

By opting for two wheels rather than four, fans will be able to park their bike in one of 480 spaces - and they will be able to peddle off after the match, while the rest of their pals set off on foot or wait for a bus back to their car park.

Season ticket holders preferring to travel by car are being offered a series of options.

Zone one car parks closest to the stadium are the most expensive at £125 per year - and opting for one of these privileged places means you will be subsidising the park and shuttle service for other fans - and you will leave the stadium last.

Zone two car parks (see panel on the right) are situated within a 20-minute walk of the stadium and will cost £87.50.

Zone three park and shuttle sites (see panel on the right) make up the third remaining option for season ticket holders and they are free.

For fans without season tickets, it seems that they will have to take their chances on the day and snap up any available spaces around the city.

Council officials reckon that in a worst case scenario, fans parked at Ordnance Survey will have to wait up to 30 minutes to get back to their cars, while supporters wanting to return to the university sites could face a wait of up to 14 minutes.

Expert analysis of pedestrian flows around the stadium - using a pavement capacity model drawn up by a Mr Fruin - show that spectators should be clear of the area within about an hour of the match finishing.

The 32,000-seat stadium is only likely to be full on 'golden match' days when Saints play the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal - and only during this maximum of seven matches a season will parking in the city come under real strain.

Even then, the experts say there will be enough off-street public car parking and parking organised by the club to cope.

Stadium operations manager Chris Egelstaff, who used to work at Wembley Stadium, said the transport management plan had been drawn up with the aim of keeping road disruption to a minimum.

He said: "Season ticket holders have been given a parking place that is most convenient for them - and will not require them to travel right across the city.

"No other club is putting in place the range of measures we have drawn up to deal with parking."