SAINTS have been relegated from the Premier League and will formally be stripped of their share certificate and its benefits in June.

It is the opposite of the process that Saints enjoyed last summer and means the withdrawing of the richest broadcast deal in league football.

However, systems are in place to soften the blow for Saints, and any other relegated team, as they head back down to the EFL Championship.

Parachute payments mean a cut of the Premier League's revenue continues to come the way of a relegated club for at least two more years. 

There is the promise of a third year of cover for any club that were in the Premier League for more than one year before relegation - but Saints were not.

Saints can expect to receive a 55 per cent cut of the payment made to the 20 Premier League clubs next season - equating to around £49million.

This is around five times the amount that a standard Championship club receives through solidarity payments and broadcast rights.

Should Saints fail to win promotion at the first time of asking, they will receive a 45 per cent cut payment in their second Championship season.

After that, they will have to fend for themselves. Parachute payments were introduced in 2006 as an attempt to guard against financial disasters.

They afford clubs the opportunity to gradually readjust to revenue streams in the Championship, which pale in comparison to the top flight.

The parachutes have been criticised as affording an unfair advantage to three teams in the league, but without them clubs face financial ruin.

Saints will also have to contend with a reduction in commercial revenue, dropping from £15.6m to £10.1m the last time they were relegated.

A drop in the club’s partnerships revenue, and the amount received from the main sponsor, is likely after relegation from the Premier League.