AMERICAN software billionaires and Russian mining magnates. Recent stories emanating from St Mary's more resemble a James Bond movie than a football club - and we can think of at least one current board member who might fancy themselves as 007.

What is fact rather than fiction though is the definite need to bring some real investment into the equation.

The bookies have obviously partly tailored their just-published prices for the 2007-08 Championship on the assumption that this investment might be forthcoming.

Otherwise Ladbrokes' 10-1 (Skybet go a top-priced 12-1) on George Burley's team winning the title makes little sense.

Last season's under-achievement, the loss of the parachute payments and departure of Gareth Bale hardly justifies Saints being a full four points shorter for the title now than they were a year ago when expectations were high.

Therefore, we must presume that this current price must be slightly based on some serious money coming in.

However, if a bona-fide moneybags does arrive then 10-1 will look very big indeed.

Read Kevin McMahon's At Odds column in today's Daily Echo for the full story - and the rest of the Championship odds.