Southampton have arrested a five-year decline in crowds after fans came back in their numbers to St Mary's this season, reports the Daily Echo. The club saw an 18 per cent increase in attendances this campaign, despite having dropped into the third tier of English football.

The Saints attracted an average gate of 20,982 over the course of the League One campaign.

Last year, in the Championship, it was a paltry 17,849.

Saints' crowds were even higher than three Premier League sides managed this season - Burnley (20,654), bitter south coast rivals Portsmouth (18,249) and Wigan (17,998).