The name Claude Puel might not mean much to many people, but his odds have shortened dramatically over the last few hours.
Yesterday I mentioned that there was a third un named foreign coach who was on Saints final short list to replace Ronald Koeman, now it seems that this man could be Claude Puel formerly in charge of Nice in France
Puel has suddenly shot from nowhere to 3rd behind Rudi Garcia who remains the bookies favourite and Frank De Boer who is probably the fans choice.
Puel spent his entire playing career at Monaco where he became something of a protegy of Arsene Wenger before taking over as manager of the team after a couple of years running the reserve side.
He has since managed Lille, Lyon and Nice from whom he resigned in May after four years in charge, his final season saw Nice finish 4th in the French League missing out on the Champions League by just two points ironically to Monaco.
He was held in high regard at Nice who seem to, like Saints have a strategy based on more than just throwing money at a problem, a statement on their website after his departure read.
"Our common history ends today with deep respect, and with job satisfaction. We lived four seasons of intense emotions, and took considerable pleasure to jointly develop the sports project requiring OGC Nice.
"We are so grateful for each other, this great human and sporting adventure that began in 2012.
"While a page is turned, the direction of OGC Nice and Claude Puel, true to their ambitions, wish the best for the future."
Fine words that seem to have lost little in translation.
On the face of it he seems to have many of the values that Saints are looking for in a manager and like Saints he took Nice to Europa League qualification at the group stage and he has other experience in Europe..
On the down side is the fact that his experience is purely in France and that could count against him when comparing the CV's of the other two on the list.