Saints' Executive Chairman Nicola Cortese has revealed plans to develop the training ground facilities in Marchwood.

A planning application has been submitted to the New Forest District Council for a new 'best-in-class' training facility, which will replace the existing main building at our Staplewood Training Centre.

This two storey structure will boast a gross external area in excess of 1,500 square metres, and will include a state of the art infrastructure consisting of a gymnasium, spacious changing rooms, a luxurious players restaurant and lounge, spa area, medical and treatment rooms, staff offices, as well as a dedicated media area.

"The building will be of a striking and contemporary design, using the very latest environmentally friendly materials, and very importantly will boast low energy, high efficiency engineered systems within the building," Cortese outlined today.

"Football, our sport in which we share our passion is completed outdoors, and at the mercy of the environment. For that reason alone, surely it is our duty to ensure that we can do everything within our power to minimise the impact we have on the environment and at Southampton Football Club, we do care.

"The new facility will be equipped to ensure that the day to day operation of the Training Centre is maintained with the lowest possible emissions. I am not aware at this point there is any other football club across Europe let alone the UK who takes these environmental issues into consideration. This will make Staplewood become the benchmark for future developments within the UK and Europe.

Chairman reveals Training Centre plans

"It will have no impact on the local area, as the site itself is bordered by existing mature hedges and extensive tree lining. We will also improve access to the site and lower transport impact on the locality. As you may be aware, one of the current limitations to the site is its close locality to residents in Marchwood, and the impact that heavy traffic flow can have on the people who live in the immediate area. We are convinced that by taking these extra steps, not only will the Club benefit, but also our understanding neighbours.

"The Training Centre compromises of 8.6 hectares of land, including six training pitches, and an indoor training dome which will also experience a facelift in its infrastructure and going forward, only the Academy will use it.

"The existing 'Stadium Pitch', currently used as the main Reserve team pitch, situated alongside the new facility, will incorporate a new low level, tiered terrace for the benefit of our loyal supporters and to give the impression of a stadium in its own right.

"It is our intention that the new Training Centre will underline our ambitions and commitment to Southampton Football Club, not just for the long term, but for the short and medium term as well.

"This facility is not just used by the First Team squad; it is also home to the Reserves, Scholarship Team and the Academy Teams. In total, there are around 100 playing and non playing staff that will directly benefit from these improvements.

"Whilst our primary aim is to witness a successful First Team that is winning championships, this cannot happen without a premier infrastructure to back it up. The significant investment in the Training Centre will ensure that the young players emerging through our Academy do so having received the best possible coaching, within the best possible environment.

"We feel that although the current facilities were perfectly adequate whilst we were in the Premiership, but the football world has moved on dramatically in these past years, and as such we have fallen behind. This will no longer be the case at Southampton Football Club. We have the aim to be top of the pile and we want our statement to set trends.

"In order to ensure minimal disruption we will be employing a dedicated Project Management Team to oversee the whole project. We have carefully chosen this team because they share our vision for the development, and recognise our passion for the project as a whole, and we are very happy at this point to be able to introduce to you Farnrise Construction Ltd represented by Gary Firmager to be our Project Managers.

"Farnrise is a company that shares our vision and business ethical beliefs and is a company which understands their social responsibility. Furthermore, Farnrise is in the process of relocating their regional offices to Southampton. So the city has another valuable company which manages to remain successful despite the economical crisis we are experiencing.

"By having a dedicated team in charge of the project, it will allow us to simultaneously maintain focus on the football side of the business.

"The development of Staplewood was something that I identified within the plans and budgets when I first arrived at the Club, these budgets have been approved by our owner Markus Liebherr. But, I must confess, that this project was not originally planned to take place at this current time.

"Having reviewed the current infrastructure I came to the conclusion that financially this made good business sense to carry out the work now. I would like to underline that at this point the costs for this project are fully funded within our operating budget. The Club remains debt free.

"Since our arrival we have strived to change the mentality of the Club, from one that has suffered in the past few years, to a Club that now looks progressively and confidently towards the bright future ahead.

"I feel very strongly that everyone, supporters and partners who are associated with Southampton Football Club are currently enjoying the progress we have realised. Also the members of staff are able to enjoy working at the Club as we make our way back up the leagues, and view it as one of the best places to work in Southampton and the surrounding areas. This is what people probably describe to be "the feel good factor" and this is what is back at the Club and the City.

"Rest assured, every project that we will undertake will push the boundaries of excellence, and this has been recognised all over the country and especially by the Football League. This was highlighted by a recent visit from Lord Mawhinney who met with me personally at St. Mary's and according to his own comments, he has never visited a Chairman away from Wembley.

"It gives me enormous pleasure today, here and now, to announce this major investment in our training facility at Staplewood. As I have outlined, this facility is critical to our vision of a return to the Premier League, allowing our footballers, coaching staff and employees to benefit from a best in class infrastructure."