SAINTS’ promotion hopes could be boosted this week without them even kicking a ball – if Sheffield Wednesday go into administration.

The Owls face a winding-up petition in the High Court tomorrow over an unpaid PAYE tax bill of £600,000.

The club has said it is in “advanced talks” with three parties about a possible takeover.

One name linked has been former Pompey and Leicester chairman Milan Mandaric.

If a takeover does not come to fruition before their court appearance, then Wednesday could well be plunged into administration.

That would result in an automatic ten-point deduction, which would result in the Owls plummeting down to second bottom.

Alan Irvine’s side is currently ninth in the division, level with Nigel Adkins’s tenth-placed Saints on points.

Full story in today's Daily Echo