RALPH Hasenhuttl joked he could salute Saints’ fans down the camera should his side win behind closed doors.

Following a Saints victory, Hasenhuttl would make his way over to the supporters, raise his hands, and start waving them up and down.

But with football returning behind closed doors later this month, the St Mary’s side’s boss, who thrives off the atmosphere, knows it won’t be the same.

Asked about managing in stadiums without supporters, Hasenhuttl said: “This is not nice.

“All we are working for every day is to make people happy and to enjoy watching football in the stadium.

“Now, we will have to make them enjoy watching it from home.

“Maybe I can do my wave in front of the camera and maybe the fans can wave back from their living room!”

Hasenhuttl last week penned a new four-year deal at St Mary’s, keeping him on the South Coast until at least 2024.

Should he see that term out he’ll become the longest-serving Saints manager since Chris Nicholl’s six-year tenure came to an end in 1991.

Stability is something Saints have lacked in recent years and there is hope Hasenhuttl can now provide the St Mary’s outfit with something it’s desperately needed.

The club are trusting him to implement his blueprint in not only the first team but also throughout the youth setup at Staplewood.

And it’s this shared vision between himself and Saints that led to him committing his long-term future to the South Coast side.

“I know about the way we want to go, and that is 100 per cent the way that I want to go, the way I want to teach and the way I want to train the players,” Hasenhuttl added.

“We know about the limits we have, maybe financially, but we know about our strengths in other areas.

“This is a very hard-working club and that fits perfectly to me.

“I think that’s what makes it so enjoyable to be here every day. I can honestly say that every day I’m here, I get more energy, I never lose energy.

“The environment here is fantastic and the facilities we have are great.

“The people in the town really support us and we try to give them back what they give us.”