ONE former Saints boss is celebrating automatic promotion to the Premier League – but another believes his chance has now gone.

Nigel Pearson’s Leicester City went up on Saturday without playing after in-form Bournemouth shocked QPR 2-1 and Derby lost at Middlesbrough.

The defeat at Dean Court left QPR boss Harry Redknapp admitting his side’s top two dream was dashed.

Redknapp returned to the Bournemouth dugout for the first time since 1992 and saw his side beaten after strikes from Lewis Grabban and Tommy Elphick.

Despite the Cherries having Harry Arter sent off with 20 minutes remaining, Grabban's winner ensured Leicester will be playing top-flight football next season.

Redknapp said his side need one-time Poole Town striker Charlie Austin, who came off the bench for the first time since January, back if they are to challenge in the play-offs.

Redknapp said: “It is almost impossible now to be fair. Nobody is going to catch (second placed) Burnley now, are they?

“We have to be careful with Charlie and we will see whether we will chance him again on Tuesday.

“He is the one guy who looks like he will score a goal. We are short of goals - that is our problem.

“We lacked that bit of flair to open them up.

“You are looking at a bit more from Junior Hoilett and Ravel Morrison, your flair players to open them up - and they didn't really do it.”

Grabban struck his 20th goal of the season on 59 minutes to hand the Cherries their seventh win in nine matches and leave them five points adrift of a top-six place.

Ex-Saints skipper Dean Hammond has been a regular member of the Leicester squad since joining the Foxes last August.

He has now won promotion for the third time in four seasons, and will be hoping to make his Premier League debut aged 31 next season.

A veteran of almost 400 Football League appearances, Hammond was deemed surplus to requirement at St Mary’s once Saints had returned to the top flight.

He has made 24 Championship appearances for the Foxes this season, though 20 of them have come as a sub.