However, Mark Fry, joint administrator of SLH, insisted he was "shocked and extremely disappointed" with the League's decision to deduct points.

BBC: Penalised Saints face relegation

But a League investigation by "independent forensic accountants" found that the football club and SLH were "inextricably linked as one economic entity" and applied their mandatory penalty.

BBC: Penalised Saints face relegation

Chief executive Rupert Lowe, Saints chairman Michael Wilde and director Andrew Cowen resigned from the company last week, although a statement from SLH said the club was "unaffected by these insolvency proceedings".

BBC: Southampton await League inquiry

Saints' parent company Southampton Leisure Holdings plc (SLH) has been in administration since April, and Saints had hoped to avoid a points deduction as SLH was in administration - not the club.

BBC: Pinnacle pulls out of Saints bid

The south coast outfit had hoped to avoid the punishment as they argued that it was their parent company Southampton Leisure Holdings plc (SLH) which had gone into administration on 2 April - not the football club.

BBC: Penalised Saints face relegation

But a League investigation by "independent forensic accountants" found that the football club and SLH were "inextricably linked as one economic entity" and applied its mandatory 10-point penalty, which will apply from the start of next season in League One.

BBC: Pinnacle pulls out of Saints bid