SAINTS' Super League crowd figure dropped by one per cent on last season's average, despite the team playing some sparkling early season football, culminating in the Challenge Cup victory in May.

The club recorded an average gate of 9,507 for its league games this term, down an average of 136 on 2003.

Attendances across Super League as a whole rose for the third season in a row, with Leeds, Wigan and Warrington showing significant rises.

Saints were not helped by the fixture format which meant they received second visits from the two teams with fewest away followers -Huddersfield and London.

Coach Ian Millward said: "It is disappointing, particularly after what we have won. Perhaps it is to do with the state of the ground or too many television matches. We have to look at what we can do marketing wise."

2004 attendances

Ave +/- %

Leeds 16,027 +2884 +25

Bradford 13,500 -1759 -10

Wigan 12,649 +1432 +23

Hull 11,459 -140 -1

Warr'ton 9,889 +2859 +41

Saints 9,507 -136 -1