GREAT ESCAPE

TODAY Saints stand at the doorway to one of the most exciting eras in the club's history after securing their Premiership status and a £40 million-plus future.

A thrilling 2-0 victory over Everton at the Dell has paved the way for the construction of the club's long-awaited new £30 million stadium.

And the Daily Echo can reveal that, after months of uncertainty, the first bricks are expected to be laid down by as early as next March.

Saints chairman Rupert Lowe said: "A lot of people have said negative things about this club's ability so it's pleasing to have proved them wrong.

"Staying up makes a difficult job easier. The whole picture is very complex but the indications are that we can deliver the project.

"We hope to start on the site at the end of the first quarter of next year. This millennium season is going to be a big one for us - it would be nice to have a crack at some major prizes."

One immediate benefit of Saints success is securing a new shirt sponsor. Friends Provident have signed a lucrative deal with the club.

It would have been slashed had the Saints been relegated.

And the knock-on effects for the city's economy and civic pride are already being counted by community leaders.

City MP Alan Whitehead said: "The stadium is now real. Premiership status has been maintained and planning permission has gone through.

"We've still got to make sure transport is right and that the impact on the local community has got to be sorted out.

"But there really will be a Premiership stadium in South-ampton within two years now. Investors will be encouraged to put money in because they can count on added cash flow.

"If we had gone down we would have lost income, players, support through the turnstiles and we would have been competing against teams with new stadiums and great facilities.

"The worst case scenario would have been a drop through the divisions.

"But now the benefits to the city are enormous.

"The Saints are one of the things that make Southampton identifi-able as the chief city in the region. "You can look at any newspaper in the world and you'll see the Premiership results.

"When the city's negotiating team went to China a lot of the people there had already heard of Southampton because they watched the Premiership.

"There is a remarkable pride attached to the club. When you think 10,000 supporters from Southampton travelled to Selhurst Park for the Wimbledon game last week it's remarkable."

Council leader John Arnold said: "Congratulations to Saints for such a wonderful fight-back.

"It demonstrated again just how important the Saints are to the city, and how important it is that they stay in the Premiership and get their new stadium.

"The city council has done its bit. We have dealt with the planning application very properly and efficiently with minimal delay and I hope very much that the club can do their side and actually get the stadium built.

"Southampton is three things - a port, a centre for higher education and research and a regional centre. These give the city great economic strength.

"The stadium will be a strong reinforcement of Southampton's position as the regional centre."

Colin Nash, a trustee of Northam Social Club, which stands near the proposed site of the new stadium, said the members were looking forward to the Saints moving into the neighbourhood.

He added: "They're going to be just around the corner and we're absolutely delighted.

"We were on the verge of going under a few months ago but now we are back in business and doing well.

"Some members of the local ethnic community are opposed to the stadium, and there are a few problems to sort out like parking.

"But it's got to be good news for the area. A new stadium would bring in a lot more business. Social club members from all over the country will be able to use our facilities and boost the club's income.

"We celebrated our centenary last year. Hopefully this will keep us going for another 100 years." Several pubs across the city were forced to close early last night due to the huge influx of celebrating Saints fans.

Extra police were drafted in from outside the city to cope with the revellers but only five arrests were made for public order-related offences.

Sergeant Dave Hobbs, of the Southampton police control room, said: "A number of pubs in the area closed early because of the high spirits of those involved.

"Police reinforcements from Eastleigh and the New Forest were called in to the city centre to ensure those celebrating stayed within acceptable standards."

Police said various pub landlords in the central area had decided to close early because they felt unable to cope with the large numbers of celebrating fans.

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