Live Coverage: Europa League playoff draw - as it happened

Southampton discovered that they would be playing Danish champions Midtjylland in the Europa League qualifying playoffs when the draw was made on Friday.

The Saints were the only English club in the hat following West Ham United's defeat to Romanian side Astra Giurgiu the previous night.

Meanwhile, the likes of Ajax, Fenerbahce and Panathinaikos all found out who they would be facing in the competition after dropping out of Champions League qualifying.

Find out how the draw unfolded with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute coverage below.

12.23pmThat's all from our live news coverage of today's Europa League playoff draw. Thanks for your company, we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye!

12.22pmSo, there you have it. The big news from an English perspective is that Southampton have been draw against Danish champions Midtjylland. The first leg of the playoff ties will be played on August 20, while the return legs will take place on week later. For the record, Southampton will be at home first in their tie.

12.18pmLiberec v Hajduk Split Krasnodar v HJK Helsinki Atromitos v Fenerbahce Thun v Sparta Prague

12.17pmRabotnicki v Rubin Kazan Odd v Dortmund

12.16pmSouthampton v Midtjylland Lech v Videoton Dinamo Minsk v Salzburg Astra v AZ

12.15pmPlzen v Vojvojdina PAOK v Brondby Bordeaux v Kairat Panathinaikos v Qabala

12.14pmAltach v Belenenses Milsami v St-Etienne

12.14pmYoung Boys v Qarabag Steaua v Rosenborg

12.12pmZilina vs. Atletic Bilbao Jablonec vs. Ajax

12.10pmThe dignitaries have been fed and watered, the UEFA officials have done their talking, so let's get on with the draw!

12.09pmWe've just been treated to a delightful video package showing Sevilla winning the tournament for a second consecutive time last season. Lovely stuff.

12.04pmIt's worth pointing out that there's an added incentive for teams playing in the Europa League these days because the winner gains automatic qualification to the Champions League. That's quite a carrot.

12.02pmA total of 44 teams will be in the hat for today's draw, but only one of those will be a Premier League side: Southampton. Big names such as Ajax and Fenerbahce are also in the hat after dropping out of Champions League qualifying.

12.01pmHello and welcome to Sports Mole's live news coverage of today's Europa League qualifying playoff draw in Nyon, Switzerland. We've already had today's Champions League playoff draw, but now it's the time for that competition's younger brother to take the spotlight.