SAINTS’ are giving the front of St Mary’s a much-needed post-season spruce up – but nothing drastic will be changing about the appearance of the stadium.

With alterations being made to the club’s home, fans have taken pictures of the work, stuck them on social media and have discussed what more changes might be afoot.

Some were jesting that perhaps a name change for the stadium was on its way, but the Daily Echo understands that it is just a planned update of the frontage ahead of next season.

The old lettering and light fittings have been torn down and replaced with a new ‘Southampton Football Club, St Mary’s Stadium’ sign and an ‘energy-efficient illumination’ to bring it up to date with the club’s current branding style.

The signage is in keeping with the traditional appearance of the stadium, with the club feeling it was time to replace the ageing signs that had been there for more than 10 years.

Saints made the move from The Dell nearly 17 years’ ago and, when they first arrived, the ground was called ‘The Friends Provident St. Mary’s Stadium’ after the club’s main sponsor at the time.

In 2006, FlyBe, who replaced Friends Provident as main sponsors, did not buy the naming rights to the stadium.

After that, the ground was just called St Mary’s Stadium, with Saints ripping down the old ‘The Friends Provident St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton Football Club’ sign and coming up with the current front set-up.