As the Saints Premier League tenure rumbles to a sad end, the speculation starts as to whom will be the next manager through what has been a revolving door over the past 7 months.

Up to November 2022 Saints looked to be getting some managerial stability, something that they had rarely achieved since the departure of Chris Nicholl in the summer of 1991.

At that point Nicholl had been only the 3rd manager at the Dell in 36 years, his departure saw the next 3 managers to last barely 36 months between them, indeed Ralph Hasenhuttl had been the only manager out of the 26 managers from Nicholl's sacking in 1991, a period of 32 years to last more than 3 years.

That stability ended in November and now it seems certain that in the summer a 4th manager in only 7 months will be in appointed.

In hindsight sacking Hasenhuttl was a mistake, yes he was on a bad run, but there were mitigating circumstances as he had a heavy injury list, at the start of this season in the previous 3 seasons, Hasenhuttl had won 135 Premier League points, Graham Potter had only 133, yet within a few months one would be sacked by his club and another would sign a multi million 5 year deal at Chelsea, football is truly a strange game.

But the past is the past and sorry to labour the point, but it cannot be changed, but the future can and that is now all that matters.

Sadly Ruben Selles will leave the club, perhaps some will wonder why I use the word sadly, but the truth is Selles should never have been given the job, he was here to learn his trade and build up to the time he had the experience to become a manager in his own right.

He would have perhaps done that at St Mary's and be groomed to take over in a couple of years time, the club did not think he was ready when Hasenhuttl was axed, so why they thought he was, barely 3 months later when Nathan Jones suffered the same fate I'm not sure.

Now the candidates to take over what has once again become a poisoned chalice are already jostling for position.

Jesse Marsch who rejected taking over on a short term contract back in February is still a favourite being priced at 10/1 by the bookies, this would be a supreme irony if he turned out to be our manager after all.

Chris Wilder currently at Watford is also fancied at 12/1, he has the credentials having got Sheffield united promoted to the Premier League, but the fact he is also being linked with Reading and Huddersfield perhaps tells us something.

Gary Rowett who almost joined Saints as a player back in June 2000 is also in the frame after nearly leading Millwall to the play offs this season, he has extensive experience in the Championship with the likes of Birmingham, Derby, Stoke and now Millwall, but although he is well fancied at 16/1 his track record screams Nathan Jones at me, I might be a little unfair here, I know little about his methods, but it just doesn't feel right.

Also at 16/1 is Frank Lampard, he seems to be linked with every job, but God knows why, for me he is certainly not the man for a club like Saints whether it is the Premier League or the Championship.

Ivan Juric, Torino manager, also shares 16/1, but would he really leave a club in Serie A for the Championship and you have to question would he really know what it takes to get out of that league ?

Brendan Rodgers is linked but my understanding is that the club do not think he is the right man for Southampton Football Club and is not liked.

Graham Potter is an obvious name to be linked having played for the club, notably as a sub in the 6-3 win over Manchester United in 1996, but is he really the man for the job, he built his name in Denmark, his one season in the Championship saw him only manage 10th with Swansea and as i mentioned earlier in his three full seasons with Brighton his record is very similar to Ralph Hasenhuttl's at Saints, both in terms of points and League positions.

EYAL BERKOVIC CELEBRATES AGAINST MANCHESTER UNITED 1996

He will more than likely hang on for a Premier League job, his stock is still high enough for that and there will be clubs in the lower half of the Premier League interested, although the Southampton connection will mean that he will be linked.

Rafa Benitez and even Ralph Hasenhuttl are names mooted lower down in the list of potential managers, but unlikely.

Personally I think it will be a name that few will have heard of who has quietly got on with learning his trade elsewhere.

The key to this though will be the new director of football Jason Wilcox who starts in the summer arriving from Manchester City, his Blackburn connections may mean current Rovers Head Coach Jon Dahl Tomasson coming into the frame.

Tomasson took Blackburn to the verge of the play offs only losing out on the final day on goal difference to Sunderland.

The Dane enjoyed a long playing career with the likes of Feyenoord, AC Milan and even a spell in the Premier League with Newcastle in 1997/98.

Since ending his playing career in 2011 he has been learning his trade, firstly as an assistant manager with Excelsior and then in other roles particularly Vitesse Arnhem whom he joined just before we played them in the Europa League in 2015.

He also was an assistant coach for the Danish International sides before joining Malmo in 20/21 as manager, in his first season he lead the team to the Swedish League title and followed that up by making the Champions League group stages in his second season before asking to be released from his contract in December 2021.

He took over as head coach at Blackburn last summer and as mentioned almost took them to the Premier league.

I would therefore not be too surprised if Jon Dahl Tomasson is unveiled as the next manager of Saints, he fits the mould, a young hungry coach who is now making the next steps forward after learning his trade.

He has the track record behind him of playing at the highest level both for club and country and it just seems a good fit that he now be appointed at St Mary's as we attempt to get out of a division he is now familiar with.

Photo: Action Images

IanRC added 09:28 - May 11 Disagree with most of the above. RH should not have been sacked before the investment in a striker was provided. Personally I think he would have kept us up and those calling for his head must take some of the blame for our current position. Clearly however whoever at Sports Republic chose the subsequent replacements must take the vast majority of the blame. Just my view and I don’t expect many to agree but there you go. Not a great advert for any purchases SR are now thinking of, let us buy you and we will ensure you are relegated. Pathetic decision making, bring back GAO LOL.

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ElSanto added 18:04 - May 12 I miss Ralph. He earnt his chance to try and keep us up. I wouldn’t have been against replacing him if he got us relegated.
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