A game against Man Utd means many vital things to the club. A high likelihood of a televised game earning the club valuable TV revenue, as well as a big audience to show off the club to supporters and buyers alike. A chance for glory for our young team to test themselves against the best. And most importantly of all, a chance to fill St Mary's.
The high earners are a drain on the club's resources, but what is really putting the club under strain is not filling the stadium. With crowds falling to below fifteen thousand, the club is struggling to break even.
A full house at St Mary's will not just bring in vital match day income, but hopefully some of those that return will come again. The chances are of course that Man Utd will be too good for our young team, but Saints have the chance of a massive financial boost if they can earn a draw and a trip to Old Trafford.
Not only would this be a great day out for the fans, but also another financial boost for the club and the kind of windfall that might just help us to keep the crown jewels at the club at least until the summer.
If the club are smart in their ticketing policy with a sell-out highly likely, then the allocation should be on the basis of games attended. If you book for the previous game or games, then you are guaranteed a ticket. Season ticket holders should be rewarded with an additional allocation of tickets.
So much is at stake for the club from a single game. And with our past history against Man Utd, there is everything to play for. Let's just hope they're playing in grey...