Southampton chairman Ralph Krueger feels they can export their academy know-how around the world.

Krueger can see a money-spinner from what Saints have developed on the south coast.

"Intellectual capital is an asset," said Krueger.

"The intellectual capital that we have here, positioning it and using it - that is where I hope that my contacts and my background can become an asset to the organisation."

He added: "The key is to monetise it without losing the soul. To also use the knowledge that is there.

"The respect that I feel worldwide for the academy, let's find a way to monetise that."

Krueger offered a first-hand example of how far-reaching the academy's reputation already is.

"Somebody I know just purchased the football team in Geneva," he told the Daily Echo. "He didn't know I was coming here, and I ran into him in December. I'd had some conversations already with Southampton, and he said 'We are going to build an academy.' I said 'That's interesting, where are you looking?' "He said 'Well, I have hired two Englishmen, but we are looking at Southampton.' "This is the guy who buys the team in Geneva, saying we are using Southampton as the model for our academy."