Comment: Saints' impressive vital stats prove why survival is key (From Daily Echo)

Comment: Saints' impressive vital stats prove why survival is key

10:43am Friday 8th March 2013 in Sport By Adam Leitch, Chief Sports Writer

Saints executive chairman Nicola Cortese has masterminded the rise through the divisions

If anybody needed further reminding of why it’s so important that Saints avoid relegation this season then it has been provided by today’s financial figures released from St Mary’s.

Traditionally the club have only released 12 months of accounts at a time, normally running to a year ending up to July. Today they took the different step of releasing figures right up until the end of December 2012.

The reason appears clear – it shows just how far they have come and will put the minds of supporters somewhat more at ease.

To read that Saints were losing money last season and that wages were running at 102 per cent of turnover would have been shocking.

But to follow that up with the realisation that, despite presumed rises in wages since reaching the top flight, the figure has fallen to 59 per cent of turnover due to a massive revenue increase settles the heart rate once more.

It is a clever, sensible and well thought out move from Saints, but also one that underlines why they need to stay up.

To run as they were last season is not a sustainable long term business model that many companies would be looking to follow.

It was a gamble backed by the owners that eventually paid off.

With a new TV deal set to boost income dramatically again next season for top flight clubs the financial future for Saints could look even healthier as long as the team can pick up enough results in the remaining ten games to ensure they are still in there.