Saints have been placed 34th in the top 100 fastest growing British businesses after turnover rose by almost £100m in four years

The club was ranked 34th in the Virgin Fast Track 100 – a league table of the top 100 private companies with the fastest-growing sales over a three-year period.

It comes after Saints’ turnover has increased from £14.8m in 2010 to £106.1m in 2014.

And the club is confident it can build even more on the existing growth.

Gareth Rogers, chief executive, said: “Football is perceived to be an industry that operates in debt and this football club has endured the traumatic effects of this in the past. However, with great support and tremendous investment, we’ve been able to banish those memories and build for a positive future.

“We’ve identified opportunities for growth and new streams of revenue for the club and business, and we’re confident we can achieve sustainable growth with the strategic plan we have in place.”

The club said its short-to-long-term ambitions were to establish Saints in the top half of the Premier League and move on to compete in Europe.

Saints chief executive Gareth Rogers with club owner Katharina Liebherr

David Bence, chief financial officer, added: “Whatever footballing success is achieved, it will be done through ongoing and sustainable growth allied with the key values that underpin the business. Over time, our sustainable core business model will generate growth in turnover alongside positive cash flows.

“Our revenue will come from three main sources: organic growth in commercial activities, new business development opportunities and improved broadcasting income deals. This revenue growth will then be allied to the footballing strategies to create the self-sustaining business model Southampton prides itself on.”

The complete league table was published in the The Sunday Times today.