SAINTS fans threw up their arms in delight just days ago - now it's in disbelief as they prepare to face the price of Premiership survival.

Patch Pacini of the Andover Saints Supporters Club branded next season's price increase - averaging around 15 per cent - as "horrendous" and demanded the club return the faith shown in them by the supporters.

And he warned Saints directors could face a hard time if they award themselves bonuses at the end of the financial year. Most supporters groups accept The Dell's 15,000 capacity makes it difficult to raise the income needed to compete in the Premiership but they still question the extra amount they will be asked to spend next season.

"We feel sorry for the club in their predicamen, but this is a horrendous increase," said Pacini. "And while supporters probably don't mind forking out and giving the club funds, we expect something tangible back in return, perhaps in terms of shares or share options.

"I would hope that at the end of the year we don't find directors awarding themselves performance related bonuses.

"Supporters are having to make huge sacrifices and they won't see why they should be the only ones. Inflation is running at three per cent. A six per cent increase would have been acceptable to most people because they're aware of the increase in wages and costs.

"At eight per cent, people would have started complaining, at ten per cent we would have started to make our feelings known. But 15 per cent I think we find difficult to accept," said Pacini who reckons the increase on his lower-tier seat is closer to 18 per cent.

Pacini's views were echoed by Southampton Independent Supporters' Association chairman Nick Illingworth and Peter Simpson, membership secretary of London Saints.

"Supporters would be more prepared to fork out for a couple of years if they know the new stadium is going to be built and we call on Saints chairman Rupert Lowe to confirm that the funding is in place," said Illingworth.

Simpson said: "I am shocked by the increases but I suppose we must accept them though the rises were not indicated by the directors at the quarterly fans' meetings."

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