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Southampton ‘considering’ appointing potential candidate after win against struggling QPR

Southampton are ‘considering’ appointing potential candidate and current interim boss Tonda Eckert after a win against struggling QPR.

Lyall Thomas and Mark McAdam have said, via Sky Sports, that ‘Tonda Eckert will take Southampton into their next Championship game against Sheffield Wednesday, as the club consider him a potential candidate for the full-time job.’

This comes after Southampton picked up a 2-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road on Wednesday night, with second-half goals from teenager Jay Robinson (55′) and Leonardo Scienza (69′) clinching only their third Championship win of the season.

Despite late pressure from the hosts, Southampton held firm for their first win since late September, taking them up to 19th in the table. Meanwhile, QPR sit remain 16th after a sixth league defeat.

FAVOURITES TO BEOCME NEW SOUTHAMPTON MANAGER:

BetVictor – 6 Nov
Tonda Eckert – 1/1
Russell Martin – 3/1
Gary O’Neil – 4/1
Michael Carrick – 5/1

Lyall Thomas adds: The U21s boss [Tonda Eckert] is highly regarded within the club and took the team to victory over QPR on Wednesday night, in their first game since Will Still was sacked.

German Eckert was appointed U21s boss in the summer by Saints sporting director Johannes Spors, who is leading the search for the next permanent head coach. The process to identify external candidates is ongoing.

Eckert arrived from Genoa, where he had been an assistant to Patrick Vieira and before that, Alberto Gilardino and Alexander Blessin. Eckert has previous experience in the Championship as an assistant to Valerien Ismael at Barnsley.

The positive result at Loftus Road has given him a further chance to stake his claim in a first home game at St Mary’s on Saturday, as they host struggling Sheffield Wednesday.

Ralph Hasenhüttl, a former Saints boss, is not under consideration despite attending their recent 3-1 loss at Bristol City as a guest of Robins manager Gerhard Struber.

A return for Russell Martin, recently sacked by Rangers, is deemed unlikely, even though he retains backing from players he promoted to the Premier League.

U21s head coach Tonda Eckert is in temporary charge, fully supported by the club alongside ex-player Adam Lallana (who is interested in coaching but lacks experience for the role).

The interim setup aims to buy time for the right hire amid hopes of improved results.

Interim Southampton boss Tonda Eckert told BBC Radio Solent:

“The boys have put an excellent shift in and managed to get through the second half. There were some hard spells there but it was a deserved win in the end.

“My job is to prepare the boys to win football games, that’s it. The resilience was good tonight, that’s everything, especially if you come out of a tough period.

“It speaks for the character of the boys. I hope the fans see that we have left everything on the pitch. That’s what gets you three points in the end.”

On the possibility of landing the job permanently, per Daily Echo:

“Look, the answer is very easy on this one. My job is to prepare the game today in the best way possible.

“My job is to prepare the game on Saturday in the best way possible. That’s what all my focus is on. It’s going to be three very important days until Saturday. Then we can all take a breath.

“I think the only thing I can do is give energy and give a structure, and prepare them in the best way possible.

“We’re going to do the same thing for Saturday and hopefully confirm [the improvement], and then we’ll go into a break and go again.”

 

QPR boss Julien Stephan told BBC Radio London:

“It was probably the most frustration at the end of the game since the start of the season. We are very disappointed but I am very proud of the players and how they played.

“Sometimes in football you don’t get what you deserve. Most important is to be positive because I think we did a good performance, perhaps the best since the start of the season, especially against a low block.”

Stephan, per Sky Sports:

“I think it was probably our best performance since the start of the season. We had a lot of chances to score. The performance is one thing, the result is another thing.

“I have to have a bigger-picture view and need to think about the performance because, for me, if we continue to play like this it is impossible we will not have good wins and many points in the future.

“I feel sorry for the players and also the fans. I think they deserved another thing today, with the quality of the performance.

Here’s how fans reacted with Southampton ‘considering’ appointing potential candidate Eckert after the win against struggling QPR…

@shockham23: Firstly. Fair play to the geezer for last night and I really hope we get a positive result Saturday. But this screams of Selles part 2 and is not a long term plan

@bensfc4: I like him and I think he could have a future in top football but come on? I mean I was joking yesterday obviously but Dragan and all of them simply will never learn. Honestly just bring back Ralph and let him work with Tonda. #SaintsFC

@dave_harfield: A win against Sheffield Wednesday will get him the job. It’s the Sport Republic way (ie, on the cheap)

@MSymonds10: He got a win against QPR who should have took something from the game. Don’t do it Saints it’s nice to feel a win but let’s look forward to something else

@weblogFILM: If SR are considering this, they need to take their time. If Tonda Eckert is interim for say the next 10 games & successful, then you have a case. Do not do a Selles and appoint permanent after 2 games. In the background, SR can still sound out other candidates. #saintsfc

@JamesCarr02: We cannot make the same mistake we did with Selles. Last night felt like the Chelsea game where we won with a great goal and then held on to get a win. This doesn’t mean Eckert is the man. We need a leader and experience. Don’t do it SR! #saintsfc

@_dani_ross: Please no 😭 even if we win on Saturday, we can’t get away from the fact we NEED someone with experience in this league and also who is a good motivator and leader ffs. Even I know that

@DanW2Capital: If they do this, they will have succeeded in finding someone even less qualified than Will Still. That is quite an achievement. Tondally mental.

@JamesjMills: This is extremely concerning…

@danhunt82: This is not a plan. Fair play for him stepping up but this isn’t the answer. It’s just Selles all over again. I pray the owners don’t do this but I wouldn’t put it past them

@sfcrobbo: We never learn do we

@Aedicule: Never ever works long term after hiring the assistant because of a short term bounce following sacking the manager. Eventually the inexperience tells, especially with the player power

@Puel_Out: Sport Republic are stupid. But are they this stupid? Probably #SaintsFC

@saintmattc: This would be a disaster. A weak QPR and Weak Sheff Wed. We’ve been down this road countless times before. We need a strong manager with proven championship experience and a pedigree within the game. #saintsfc

@Wiggles_01: If the club appoint him, there will be protests at the ground. Last night was one of our worst performances of the season, ridiculously lucky to hold on. Id hope they have enough sense to look beyond one fortunate win

@holgat43398: Anyone who thinks that Eckert managed that result is delusional…that poison core of senior players picked that team tonight… they’ll want him in now so he can be the face of it…

@Jagm2596: A win but again shows how mentally weak they all are, even a 2-0 lead with 20 mins left is uncertain

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