Sport Republic will be looking for their eighth permanent manager of Southampton Football Club, after sacking manager Will Still after just five months.
The 33-year-old was appointed at the start of the season after leaving French Ligue 1 side Lens, but has won just two Championship games this season.
Sporting Director Johannes Spors said in a statement:
“Will is a great person who gave everything to try and improve performances and results. Ultimately, that process has taken longer than any of us would have liked. By making a change now, we believe it gives us the best chance of turning things around this season and climbing back up the league table.
“I would like to thank Will, Ruben, Clement, and Carl for their efforts and wish them well for the future.”
He said after Saturday’s defeat that there was not an “instant fix” for the side after another loss.
“If I’d had an instant fix I would have found it about a month or two months ago.
“I don’t think there is an instant fix to be really honest with you, and I think whoever it is, there’s a big job and I knew there was a big job coming in here.
“I said a few weeks ago there were a lot of things that need to change that haven’t changed yet because we haven’t had the time to do that, but there’s still evidently a lot of work to do.”
Frank Lampard
As per Graeme Bailey, Frank Lampard is on Southampton’s shortlist to replace Will Still.
It remains to be seen whether the Coventry manager will drop down the table to a club close to the relegation spots, but he will certainly have more funds available at Southampton.
Ralph Hasenhüttl
Ralph Hasenhuttl managed Southampton in a four-year stint in the top flight before being sacked in November 2022.
The Austrian fits the criteria of manager Johannes Spors wants, and was loved by Saints fans, and many would love him back. But the sacking of him by Sport Republic has left the two parties in poor standing.
The only Ralph was in attendance at Ashton Gate for Southampton’s 3-1 loss to Bristol City.
Mark Robins
Former-Coventry and Stoke City boss Mark Robins would make Southampton harder to beat, and almost certainly bring them further up the league table.
The 55-year-old has already beaten Southampton this season, 2-1 at St Mary’s.
He is reportedly a target to ‘keep an eye on’.
Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick’s three-year spell at Middlesbrough proved that he’s a competent Championship manager, but questions loom over whether his philosophies would fit under Johannes Spors’ style. He is one of the current bookies’ favourites.
Similar to former-Southampton boss Russell Martin, Carrick’s stubbornness ultimately got him the sack at Boro as he struggled to adapt after other sides had sussed out his methods.
While some managers are blind to change, Michael Carrick may view his time at Riverside as a learning curve. But Southampton may be keen to stay away from the Martin-type style that ended badly before.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær
Perhaps the wildcard option, former-Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær is out of a job, after leaving Beşiktaş, and if he is looking for a project, could head to the south coast.
A manager who looks to play attractive football, branded ‘Ole ball’ by Red Devils fans, he finished 2nd in the Premier League with his former-club.
In a statement, Southampton Football Club said that Ruben Martinez, Clement Lemaitre, and Carl Martin have left their positions as well as Will Still, and men’s under-21 head coach Tonda Eckert will take over on an interim basis.
It will be interesting to see who Sport Republic bring in as the next manager of the club, but fans are righteously fed up with their scattergun, misguided ownership.
