SAINTS are frantically planning for next season with just 59 days until they enter European competition for only the eighth time in the club’s history.

Arsenal’s 4-0 FA Cup final win over Aston Villa confirmed that Ronald Koeman’s men will enter the Europa League by virtue of finishing seventh last season.

Saints have qualified for the third-qualifying round of the competition, which means they will start their season on July 30.

The draw will take place on July 17, with the two-legged tie played on July 30 and August 6.

If Saints get through that then they will go into the play-off round, another two-legged affair played on August 20 and 27.

If they are successful once more they enter the group stages of the competition.

Though the club are delighted at Europa League qualification, it does mean they have to swing into action quickly to prepare for such an early start.

Most pressing is the team.

There is clearly not much time off this summer for many of Saints’ star names, with a host of players away on international duty until the middle of this month and not set to report back until early July.

The club has earmarked trips to Austria and Holland for pre-season, but have stalled on arranging anything else with this possibility in mind.

Plans for further friendlies are now likely to be scrapped.

In terms of the transfer market, Koeman is likely to want to recruit a few extra bodies to beef up his squad.

The rigours of playing on Thursday and then again on Sunday are well documented.

Saints will have to do it the hard way as well because of their two qualification rounds.

Should they make the group stages, they will play an additional ten fixtures by December 10.

Off the pitch, there is also much to take into consideration.

Fans will be eager to see what tickets are available for the away games and whether the club organise any official transport to possible far-flung destinations.

There are sponsorship, commercial and merchandise opportunities to take advantage of if Saints progress.