Southampton are on the hunt for a new manager after Russell Martin’s exit from St Mary’s.
The promotion-winning boss had been under pressure for weeks following a terrible start to the season. The Saints have just five points from their opening 16 games of the campaign and sit bottom of the table.
The final straw for Southampton’s owners was Sunday evening’s 5-0 defeat at the hands of Tottenham. Martin’s sacking was announced in the aftermath of that defeat.
And it leaves the club looking for a new manager. A host of names have already been linked with the role so take a look at some of the runners and riders in contention:
Danny Rohl
The current favourite with the bookmakers, the German has been nothing short of a miracle worker with current club Sheffield Wednesday. Appointed in October 2023, he led the Owls to safety during his debut campaign at Hillsborough.
He was rewarded with a new contract in the aftermath of that achievement until the summer of 2027. Rohl’s excellent work has continued with the Owls this term and they sit ninth - just five points off of the playoffs.
Rohl has already been linked with a move to the Premier League this term having reportedly been under consideration by Leicester before their move for Ruud van Nistelrooy.
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Carlos Corberan
Another manager who has impressed in the Championship over recent seasons, Carlos Corberan’s West Brom are one place above Wednesday. They have lost just three league games all season - albeit with a league-high 11 draws.
Corberan has been with West Brom since 2022 after stints with Leeds, Huddersfield and Olympiacos. The Spaniard remains under contract until 2027.
He is another that has also been linked with a move to the Premier League, with Wolves reportedly interested, but they appear to be looking at other options for now.
David Moyes
The former Everton and Manchester United boss has been out of work since leaving West Ham in the summer. And he has seemingly not been short of suitors after a number of managerial changes.
Invariably, Moyes is among those to have mentioned alongside the Southampton vacancy. He appears slightly unlikely given the style of play established at St Mary’s so far.
Moyes has also been linked with a return to former club Everton so he might bide his time so far despite the opportunity on the south coast.
Graham Potter
Speaking of managers who have been linked with plenty of roles, Graham Potter certainly fits into that category. Leicester, Ajax and Nice have all been among those linked with a move for him over the past year but as yet, Potter is yet to return.
The former Brighton and Chelsea boss has Premier League experience, with his style having earned plenty of plaudits. And he has since confirmed his stance on a potential return to management.
Speaking earlier this month, he said: "As I’ve said before you’re open to everything but at the same time I’m really enjoying this (punditry) because it is another perspective. You get to see it from your eyes and how the media thinks about the game.”
Mark Robins
Sticking with the theme of out of work managers, Southampton might be tempted to give Mark Robins his first taste of Premier League football. The 54-year-old was surprisingly sacked earlier this season by Coventry after an indifferent start to the season.
Robins had previously enjoyed a stunning spell with the Sky Blues. He led them to promotions from League Two and League One, as well as winning the EFL Trophy.
Robins also led Coventry to a place in the Championship playoff final during the 2022/23 season and also a place in last season’s FA Cup semi-finals. It would be a bold call for Southampton to appoint Robins but it would not be beyond the realms of possibility.
Lee Carsley
Potentially thinking outside the box, the former England interim boss could be handed his first opportunity in the Premier League. The ex-Republic of Ireland international impressed with the Three Lions, winning five out of his six games at the helm.
Since being replaced by Thomas Tuchel, he has since returned to his role with the England under-21s. Gary Lineker previously thought he would be a good candidate for former club Leicester so it wouldn’t be a total surprise to see him linked with the role at St Mary’s.
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