Having narrowly avoided relegation
the previous season, Southampton looked to improve their position in the league in 2008–09. The season was even more disappointing, however, as the Saints finished second from bottom to be relegated to
League One, which they would start with a ten-point deduction as a result of its parent company,
Southampton Leisure Holdings PLC, entering
administration. The season was equally unsatisfactory in the cup tournaments, as the club were knocked out of both the
FA Cup and the
League Cup in the third round, losing 0–3 to
Premier League champions
Manchester United and 1–3 to
League Two side
Rotherham United. The season was worsened still by a change in management – head coach
Jan Poortvliet resigned from the club on 23 January 2009, and youth academy manager
Mark Wotte took over for the remainder of the season. ==Championship==