Southampton owners in administration

Southampton have confirmed that their parent company, Southampton Leisure Holdings plc, has gone into administration.

Shares in the company, chaired by Saints chief executive Rupert Lowe, were suspended from trading yesterday and accountants from recovery and restructuring specialists Begbies Traynor have today been appointed administrators.

Southampton have debts estimated at £30m (€33m) and are lying second from bottom in the Coca-Cola Championship, but they should avoid a 10-point penalty from the Football League as the club itself is not in administration.