The new Lord Mayor of Southampton is backing Saints to claim play-off glory at Wembley.

Lifelong fan Cllr Dave Shields is hoping to welcome Russell Martin’s side back to the south coast as a Premier League outfit.

Saints take on Leeds United at the national stadium on Sunday, May 26, in a clash often dubbed the richest game in football due to the financial rewards for the winner.

Cllr Shields, who only took up the role as mayor last week after being elected by his fellow city councillors, gave up his chance to watch his team at Wembley in favour of being in the city with thousands of residents not lucky enough to get a ticket.

He will be welcoming supporters as they arrive at Southampton Central Railway Station and begin their journeys up to the capital on Sunday morning.

The Lord Mayor told the LDRS: “As a lifelong Saints since the mid 1960s I am desperately keen for our club to be returned as soon as possible to the top flight of English football.

“Saints as the premier team on England’s south coast and deeper south of England hinterland is the natural order of things football-wise and the previous balance urgently needs restoring.

“I’ve been to Wembley three times this century to watch our team and was there when we won the Johntsone’s Paint Trophy but, alas, fell just short to Manchester United in a Carabao Cup final and then to Chelsea in an FA Cup semi- final.

“But one thing I know about our club, its supporters and the city as a whole is our resilience. So, I wish our team well on Sunday and trust that they come home with the goods.”

Saints fans snapped up 36,900 tickets for the Wembley showpiece after the semi-final victory over West Bromwich Albion.

This included an additional 1,233 tickets, which sold out within around an hour of being made available on Wednesday, May 22.

Supporters travelling up to the match on the train have been advised to allow extra time for their journeys, with services expected to be extremely busy and queuing systems possibly in place at stations.