Ambitious clubs like Saints will tread a fine line as the new TV deal brings the Premier League clubs even greater riches next season.

The already cash rich top 20 are set to be boosted by around an extra £25m each for the next few years, but the sides who thrive will be those who apply strict financial discipline.

To hear figures like £1.8bn when referring to total player wages in the Premier League is itself fairly shocking. What should be of even greater concern for football fans is when that is distilled down to an average of 70 per cent of turnover being splashed out on wages alone.

In most businesses those kind of figures would be considered outrageous. In football, you just breathe a sigh of relief if you are a Norwich fan with your club spending 49 per cent rather than an Aston Villa at a whopping 94 per cent.

Of course, Saints themselves took a gamble, one backed by the billions of their Swiss owners, to get to the top flight.

Over the back-to-back promotion winning season we saw wages as a percentage of turnover of 93 per cent and 102 per cent.

It was a calculated gamble and one that paid off, as now Saints sit in the cash rich Premier League, and in the first six months of this season Nicola Cortese had pulled the figure back to 59 per cent of turnover.

Saints remain hungry for further success, and the question for them will be at what cost?

Transfer fees are one thing, but the wages are what can handcuff a club, wedded as they are to them for the length of players’ contracts.

We have seen numerous disasters down the years, arguably including at Saints when they went in to administration.

However, it has certainly been so far so good under Cortese.

Of course, all of this could get more interesting as the financial fair play rules start to loom on the horizon.

Saints will surely continue in the same manner Cortese has set out previously, even if that might well involve some heavy spending this summer.

“Effective financial management is about making the right investments at the right price, at the right time,” he has said.

“When combined with sound business decisions, commitment, a strong company structure and great ambition across the whole organisation, we have proved that only a modest outlay – when compared with most Premier League Clubs – is needed in order to achieve success. We fully intend to maintain our culture and a diligent approach to our financial affairs.”

He added: “We have a plan to compete at the top and all of our decision-making and investment spending is geared to achieve that. The creation of a state-of-the-art training facility at Staplewood - which is planned to be operational towards the end of 2013 - will be a shining and proud example of that.

“Our results also demonstrate we are already operating within the spirit of likely new Premier League financial regulations in respect of average profits and losses over three years. We believe very strongly that each club should continue to be permitted to run their business – including their pay rolls - as they see fit. This is fundamental to the future integrity of football.”

The annual Deloitte report, compiled for the season before Saints rejoined the Premier League elite, showed wages soared nine per cent.

The Premier League retains its status as the world's wealthiest domestic competition with its 20 clubs expected to earn more than £3bn of revenues in 2013/14.

That would be an increase of almost 25 per cent on the £2.5bn they are estimated to have earned last season, itself a five per cent rise on the £2.4bn in 2011/12.

Despite pressure on clubs to contain soaring wages, they are expected to plough around £480m of the extra TV cash into wages.

Half of the clubs in the top tier made a profit in the 2011/12 season, with clubs earning a combined £98m of operating profits – four per cent of total revenues.

Alan Switzer, director in the sports business group at Deloitte, said: “The Premier League clubs have agreed to a system of enhanced financial regulations, designed to improve the sustainability of its clubs.

“The successful implementation of these rules, coupled with the imminent boost to broadcast revenues, could provide huge benefits to the long-term development, growth and stability of the game and its clubs.”

Manchester City was the best-paying club in 2011/12, with wages of £202m, while Swansea City was the lowest, handing its players £35m.

Manchester United earned the most in 2011/12, with revenues of £320m, while Wigan Athletic earned the lowest at £53m.

Clubs including Saints are set to receive an average of £73m from TV rights this coming season, up £25m.