Southampton relegated after points deduction

The Football League has announced they have imposed a 10-point penalty on Coca-Cola Championship side Southampton under their administration rules.

The south coast team's holding company, Southampton Leisure Holdings plc, went into administration earlier this month.

It was unclear at the time if the club would face a points deduction, which is handed out to all side's that enter administration, as the club itself was not in administration.

Yet an investigation by the Football League has found that the club and the holding company are "inextricably linked as one economic entity."

The news means that Southampton, who are currently four points off safety from relegation into League One with just two games of the season remaining, are certain to go down.

Because Southampton Leisure Holdings plc entered administration after the League's March deadline, should they avoid relegation this season, the 10 point penalty will be administered.

Yet, if Saints go down without the penalty being imposed, they will start their first season in League One on minus 10 points.

The 1976 FA Cup winners dropped out of the Premier League in 2005 after a 27-year stay in the top flight.