Southampton may not remain at the bottom of the Championship for much longer after all.

Southampton may not remain at the foot of the Championship table for very long after a surprising development involving fellow promotion hopefuls Sheffield United.

The Saints currently sit bottom of the second tier on minus four points following their points deduction connected to the Spygate controversy from last season.

Whatever happened in their opening fixture against Watford, Southampton were always guaranteed to begin their Championship campaign at the bottom of the standings because their punishment had already been applied.

A victory against the Hornets would at least have provided a positive start and helped reduce the psychological impact of beginning the season with a deficit. However, with Stoke City and Millwall also awaiting Southampton before the end of August, the pressure to collect points immediately is already significant.

The Saints desperately need victories to start climbing the table and prevent the punishment from becoming an even greater obstacle.

Watford v Southampton – Sky Bet Championship 2026/27 | Matt Watson/GettyImages

However, an unexpected development could soon see Southampton move away from 24th place without even having to earn a point.

Sheffield United face possible points deduction

Sheffield United could potentially be hit with a major points penalty, which would dramatically alter the Championship standings.

Reports have suggested that the Blades face a “real prospect” of receiving a 12-point deduction if their former parent company is wound up this week.

The situation stems from comments made by former Sheffield United owner Saudi Arabian Prince Abdullah Bin Mosaad Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The club’s current ownership, led by American businessmen Steve Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy, have reportedly pushed back against the former owner’s claims. Sources close to the current owners have reportedly dismissed the allegations as nothing more than a “publicity stunt.”

Nevertheless, the possibility of a substantial deduction remains a major talking point around Bramall Lane.

If Sheffield United were ultimately handed a 12-point penalty, Southampton would immediately benefit in the league table.

Rather than remaining at the very bottom, the Saints would move up to 23rd, despite still carrying their own four-point deduction.

That would provide a small but potentially important psychological boost for Tonda Eckert and his players.

Could Southampton escape the bottom?

It remains far too early to say whether Sheffield United will actually receive the proposed punishment.

At present, the possibility remains speculative, and the situation could develop in a completely different direction.

However, if the reported 12-point deduction becomes reality, Southampton would suddenly find themselves with another club below them.

That would not solve their own problems, but it would at least mean the Saints would no longer be isolated at the bottom of the Championship standings.

Southampton will still need to collect points quickly if they are to escape trouble, particularly given the difficult fixtures coming up.

The prospect of Sheffield United being punished does, however, offer a reminder of how quickly the Championship table can change when clubs become involved in financial or regulatory problems.

Championship has history of deductions

Points deductions have become an increasingly familiar feature of the Championship in recent seasons.

Several clubs have suffered significant penalties for issues away from the pitch, meaning the possibility of Sheffield United being punished is not without precedent.

Derby County, for example, were handed a 21-point deduction during the 2021-22 season amid serious financial difficulties.

Sheffield Wednesday also experienced the impact of a substantial punishment last season, receiving an 18-point deduction.

Those examples demonstrate just how damaging a points penalty can be to a club’s season, particularly when the deduction reaches double figures.

West Bromwich Albion and Leicester City were also affected by points deductions last season, with the two clubs collectively losing eight points from their respective totals.

Therefore, while a potential 12-point punishment for Sheffield United would be severe, it would certainly not be unprecedented within the modern Championship.

Sheffield United have experienced a deduction before

Interestingly, Sheffield United have already experienced the challenge of beginning a Championship campaign with a points deduction.

Chris Wilder’s side started the 2024-25 season with a two-point penalty after the club defaulted on payments owed to other teams relating to the 2022-23 campaign.

Despite that initial disadvantage, the deduction did not prevent them from navigating the season successfully.

A 12-point punishment would be an entirely different proposition, though.

Losing 12 points before a campaign has properly developed could put Sheffield United in serious danger and dramatically change their objectives for the season.

Instead of focusing solely on promotion ambitions, the club could suddenly find themselves battling to avoid relegation.

A strange situation for Southampton

Southampton’s own four-point deduction came about for completely different reasons.

The Saints were punished following their involvement in the Spygate controversy, rather than because of financial instability.

That makes the situation particularly unusual, as they have effectively been forced to start the Championship campaign with a significant handicap despite the circumstances being unrelated to the financial problems that have affected several other clubs.

Nevertheless, Southampton could soon find themselves feeling slightly less isolated if Sheffield United receive their proposed punishment.

The Saints would still have to overcome their own four-point deficit, but seeing another club placed below them could provide some encouragement.

The Saints still need points

Ultimately, Southampton cannot rely on Sheffield United’s problems to improve their season.

Eckert’s team must start collecting victories if they want to climb the Championship table.

The upcoming fixtures against Stoke City and Millwall before the end of August could therefore prove particularly important.

A strong run of results would allow Southampton to begin cancelling out their points deficit and move towards safety.

For now, though, the possibility of Sheffield United receiving a 12-point deduction has created an unexpected twist.

If the punishment is confirmed, Southampton could move from the bottom of the Championship to 23rd without playing another match.

That would hardly represent a solution to their problems, but after starting the campaign on minus four points, even a small lift in the standings could be welcomed by the Saints.

For Sheffield United, meanwhile, the potential punishment could transform their entire season before it has properly begun.