We take a look at who are the favourites to become new Southampton manager after sacking Will Still on Sunday evening.
He leaves with Southampton after just five months, with the club sitting 21st in the Championship with 12 points from 13 matches. Technical director Johannes Spors will lead the search for his successor.
Assistant coaches Ruben Martinez, Clement Lemaitre, and Carl Martin have also departed, with under-21 head coach Tonda Eckert taking interim charge.
Technical director Johannes Spors acknowledged Still’s efforts but said the change was needed to improve results and climb the table. Still admitted post-match there was no “instant fix” and significant work was needed to try and turn the team’s form around.
We can confirm that we have this evening parted ways with Men’s First Team Manager Will Still.
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) November 2, 2025
CLUB STATEMENT:
Southampton Football Club can confirm that we have this evening parted ways with Men’s First Team Manager Will Still.
Rubén Martinez, Clément Lemaitre and Carl Martin have also left their positions at the club.
Men’s Under-21s Head Coach Tonda Eckert will take charge of the team on an interim basis.
Group Technical Director Johannes Spors said: “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, Rubén, Clément and Carl for their efforts and wish them well for the future.”
FAVOURITES TO BECOME NEW SOUTHAMPTON MANAGER:
BetVictor – 3 Nov
Russell Martin – 6/4
Michael Carrick – 5/1
Brendan Rodgers – 8/1
Ralph Hasenhuttl – 8/1
Gary O’Neil – 10/1
Lee Carsley – 10/1
Alex Revell – 14/1
David Wagner – 14/1
The Southern Daily Echo report that senior players at the Saints would reportedly ‘welcome’ the club reappointing Russell Martin. The former boss was sacked by Southampton nearly a year ago after a poor Premier League start.
Martin achieved promotion from the Championship in 2023–24 and works with many current squad members. Despite a failed Rangers stint, he tops betting odds.
The under-21s boss, Tonda Eckert, will take interim charge, starting with Wednesday’s game at QPR. The Athletic reports he’s in contention for the permanent role, having previously worked under Spors at Genoa (first-team assistant) and held roles at Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg, and Barnsley.
GRV Media claims Saints hierarchy want the current Coventry boss (leading Championship by 4 points, only 1 loss).
Identification of Still’s successor began a month ago. Others report also lists Mark Robins, Lee Carsley, and Gary O’Neil as options.
St Mary’s turns toxic as Preston beat Southampton to pile more pressure on Will Still
Will Still said to the club’s media after defeat to Preston: “We’ve not done our job on two occasions and conceded two goals. It wasn’t good enough.
“We tried a lot of different things, put players in different situations to try and create what we could, and it hasn’t paid off.
“The way we’ve defended that first goal is really poor and not good enough from us. Not everyone has done their job on each particular phase of play. We know that if everyone doesn’t do it then we make it difficult for ourselves, and that’s exactly what we’ve done.
“I think it was same old. We’ve created more than enough situations or opportunities, but we’ve ended up not scoring a goal.
“I don’t think we’ve reacted badly after we’ve conceded. If anything we’ve come out after half time, made a few changes and got a momentum back in the game, but their keeper tipped it on to the crossbar and it doesn’t go in.
“You keep plugging away and plugging away, throw the kitchen sank at it at the end and get caught on the transition. Even on the transition, we’ve got a two-man overload in our box, but we’re not defending our goal as we should and concede a second.”
Adam Armstrong said: “It’s not good enough. I think we’ve said that the past couple of weeks. It’s on us on the pitch to do better. I think we had control of possession first off but as soon as they scored it was a weak goal that we conceded and I think second half we’re just chasing the goal and got punished on the counter attack.
“As I’ve touched on we have to be a lot, lot better in those situations. Whether it’s thinking outside the box and putting our bodies on the line. The strikers running back to win the ball. I think we’re not quite getting the balance yet and we have to stick together to get through this period.
“It’s frustrating because we see it in training every day and the quality we’ve got, we have to put it on the pitch. It’s as simple as that. That’s what we work hard for, to do that, but at the minute we’re not good enough.
“We need to be better. We have to gel the group together. We have to keep going, which we are, and hopefully things turn around. It simply wasn’t good enough. We have to go into the next game and be a lot, lot better.”
Here’s how fans reacted as the favourites to become new Southampton manager is revealed after sacking Will Still…
@jase1962: Who would want this poison chalice of a position….and who would want to work with this shower of shit of a squad #Saintsfc
@SophFigueira95: I still don’t believe it’s the manager’s fault at this point. Until SR get out of our club and stop making stupid decisions, I fear it’ll be just a cycle repeating itself. #SaintsFC
@SuchaLewser: Our board and players have thrown a 32 year old genuinely nice bloke under the bus. Sadly he had to go but if you feel the manager is the only problem, you are entirely wrong. #saintsfc
@SFC_Ben7: We are going in circles at the moment. We will get a new manager in things might change a little bit but we will still be so far off it. Under these owners we’ve had so many managers and all of them are failing. Think it’s the owners fault. Don’t know how to run a club #SaintsFC
@ashley_whiteway: Thrown well and truly under the bus. Sport Republic has to get his replacement spot on. #SaintsFC
@Saint_Alastair: On a human level, I feel very sorry for him. Let down by an awful team, especially in terms of their weak mindset, as well as by a poor board and unfocused recruitment. But too nice and weak for this league, looked lost. Need a tough manager in now, who knows the league. He had some bad luck – failure to recruit a proper nine has been telling, as has an inability to score some absolute sitters from first teamers (Jander, Armstrong, Charles, Archer and Downs have all missed them in last 2 weeks alone). Saying that, none of the pragmatism promised. The players have never really bought into him and after the softness of Martin and the harshness of Juric, they probably need a no nonsense manager but who knows the league. Suspect Martin, Ralph, Carrick, Ange, O’Neil and Gerrard will all be discussed
@AndrewLeakey57: #saintsfc I’ve been thinking for a while that if Will Still was sacked, then someone like Steve Cooper could bring some experience and stability to the club. Worked wonders in the past, especially in the Championship. Presently w/Brondby. Love Lampard but that ship has sailed….
@KHall1992: 154 matches under SR ownership, 41 wins in that time, and 6 managers… how longs it’s going to take before they realise they are the problem and not the managers… club isn’t going to change all while these lot are in change! SPORT REPUBLIC OUT!!! #SaintsFC
@Jasonwh02541910: Shame it didn’t work out, however the players brought in the summer were more then good enough to push for top end of the championship, I feel it was a too bigger job for Still, the derby game against the skates showed me he couldn’t motivate them enough, who’s next? 🙄 #SaintsFC
@GazzSmith4:
❌ Failed to back Ralph. Then sacked him too late.
❌ Nathan Jones
❌ Ruben Selles
❌ Failed to back Martin properly after promotion, then sacked him too late.
❌ Ivan Juric
❌ Will Still
Surely no Saints fan trusts SR to get the next one right…?
#SaintsFC
@danswight: Shame we can’t sack the players…. or SR just sack themselves! They’re more to blame for the mess we’re in than Still was. Results don’t lie though and you can see why he had to go… shame really as I did initially like the appointment and hoped he’d do well. #saintsfc
@willsaints13: He didn’t help himself, but at the end of the day we all know what the real problem is. Doesn’t matter who sport republic bring in, we are fucked becuase these owners have ruined our club. #saintsfc
@connor_eth1: agree with me or not, will wasn’t the problem, as soon as things get rough SR sack the manager, will was working with players who couldn’t give 2 shits, if we get another nathan jones like replacement we won’t be in the champ long. #saintsfc
@Sainty99: Gutted for Will Still. I think he was too swayed by public opinion, kept chopping & changing but also looked like he’d given up the ghost in recent weeks. Needed to do it his way, be bold & come across confident but didn’t. Wasted chance, hope he succeeds in the future #SaintsFc
@CameronSFC: Feel bad for him. Fingers should definitely be pointed at the board & players more than him. Sacking him ahead of a week where we play twice is another awful decision by SR & their manager revolving door continues. I have no idea where they turn now. Please just sell us #saintsfc
13 games in charge, without the striker #SaintsFC so obviously needed. Circumstances contrived against Will Still.. squad overhaul, injuries, illness, form etc but ultimately this squad lacks physicality, confidence & character. Big task for next manager to find a tune…
— Lewis Coombes (@LewisCoombes) November 2, 2025
You must be logged in to post a comment Login