Southampton

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It was always going to be a struggle to keep Southampton in the Premier League, even before their poor transfer window.

The departure of technical director Jason Wilcox, a big advocate of former Scotland international Russell Martin, to Manchester United last year left the former head coach without a crucial ally and vital .

Southampton returned to the Premier League without sufficiently replacing Wilcox, which left them without a key position and experience.

There was frustration with the ownership as chief executive Phil Parsons - who ed from Dyson in July 2023 - had limited experience in the game and the club struggled to move quickly enough to get deals done last summer.

The target for the season was to avoid relegation and build the team's value, something they have done with the emergence of Tyler Dibling - even if their reported £100m valuation is unlikely to be achieved.

Martin had a patient-ing, possession-based style of play - something he had implemented since becoming MK Dons manager in 2019 and continued at Swansea.

It was something that appealed to Southampton and why they were so determined to take him from the Swans after relegation in 2023, a move that turned acrimonious when Swansea took Martin to court.

The style criticisms came as the Saints struggled and the toxic atmosphere at St Mary's during the final weeks - including as Tottenham scored four goals in 25 minutes in Martin's final game - made the situation untenable.

Mistakes happened too often. The tone was set by goalkeeper Alex McCarthy's error to gift Joelinton the winner in Newcastle's 1-0 opening day victory in August - and it is perhaps naive to think Southampton would have survived this season.

But had Martin ridden out the storm - difficult in a football culture that demands everything yesterday - perhaps he would have been the best person to mount a promotion challenge.

It may have come down to how psychologically scarred the squad and club were from relegation, and it is a fanciful suggestion but the pedigree was there.

Were Southampton right to sack Martin? Make your choice

Read more on what is next for Southampton after their latest managerial departure

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Russell Martin was dismissed in December with Southampton nine points from survival and replaced by Ivan Juric, who has won just two of his 16 matches and left with the club 22 points away from safety.

There have been 14 occasions when a Premier League club has gone through three permanent managers in one season.

Not counting Simon Rusk, Southampton are on the list twice (2022-23 and 2004-05) along with Fulham (2013-14 and 2018-19) and Watford (2019-20 and 2021-22), as well as relegated Leeds in 2022-23 when Sam Allardyce could not save them with four games in charge.

In 2022-23 Saints replaced Ralph Hasenhuttl - who had a 0.86 points per game (PPG) record - with Nathan Jones, who was sacked with a PPG record of just 0.38, then Ruben Selles was appointed to earn 0.63 PPG.

Survival is hard with that rate of change - only Portsmouth (2004-05 and 2008-09) and Swansea (2016-17) have managed it.

That stat is not under threat after Southampton's relegation on Sunday as they look for someone new to take them back up.

But as that search begins, many will question whether the sacking of Martin was a mistake in the first place?

Should Southampton have followed in the footsteps of the likes of Norwich and Burnley and kept faith with the man who took them up - knowing they would be well-placed to lead another promotion charge, with relegation already on the cards?

Were Southampton right to sack Martin? Make your choice

Read more on what is next for Southampton after their latest managerial departure

On Monday, BBC Radio Solent had a special programme reacting to the news Ivan Juric has left Southampton and the club's relegation from the top flight.

Among the discussion points were what has led to Saints becoming the earliest team to be relegated in Premier League history, Juric's short reign and exit, and what is next for the club.

Listen again on BBC Sounds

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The decision to dismiss manager Ivan Juric was very much driven by Southampton, rather than the Croatian opting to walk away from the club.

In a statement, the Saints itted a need to "restore a sense of pride" in a season during which they were relegated with seven games to go, becoming the earliest side to suffer that fate in the Premier League era.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl will be considered the front-runner to get the job, having been considered for the post on two previous occasions.

The statement also reveals the importance of new group technical director Johannes Spors, who will guide the replacement process.

The German has a relationship with Rohl from their time working together at Bundesliga club RB Leipzig.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Southampton parting ways with manager Ivan Juric following confirmation of the club's relegation from the Premier League.

Here are some of your comments:

Maximus: I think it's the right decision; Ivan Juric was brought in to keep us up, so there's no point in keeping him on now that we've been relegated. It gives us more time to find a new manager who will hopefully get us playing a cohesive and adaptable style of play with players who want to be there. If we can get promoted again at first try, and then stay up, so much the better.

Len: The club is a mess, poor gs, players and managers for the past four seasons, penny pinching on decent players and buying too many youngsters. You get what you pay for, this season has proved it. If this continues we will struggle in the Championship next season.

Stu: Not his fault. Another bad decision from the top. Huge swing in style to Juric from Martin, players already struggling, not hard to see it go this way. Can only hope Johannes Spors is truly in the driving seat now and can work on implementing a long-term vision which is consistent.

Dave: Southampton owners and management are a disgrace. Relegation is not the manager's fault, it is firmly theirs. Lack of investment, the selling of every decent player they ever had and giving managers an uphill task every time. Without change, nothing will change. Time for the owners to move on and sell their interests to people with ambition.

Luke: I do believe we had a group of players that are better than the results have shown this season. We have had two managers who have diametrically opposite philosophies on how football should be played, so I think the blame for this should fall with the owners but I am very happy to be patient - let them learn from their mistakes and build a club for the future.

Ray Hunt
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

With relegation to the Championship now confirmed, Southampton made the swift decision to part ways with Ivan Juric immediately and Simon Rusk is in temporary charge once again.

It means work can now begin on recruiting his successor for next season's Championship push.

In truth, it was a near impossible task even when when he succeeded Russell Martin on 21 December. Juric inherited a side bottom of the table with one win in 16, but he took the job knowing his record would be tarnished with a near-certain relegation.

He lasted 107 days and lost 12 of his 14 top-flight games. With just one win, and the lowest points-per-game average, he will go down as one of the worst managers in league history. According to the stats.

It does feel as though he was set up to fail. It is a shifting of the blame from Sport Republic themselves - who are the cause. How could he possibly succeed from the position he was in?

And yet it was clear he was the wrong appointment and he didn't help himself with his team selections, establishing zero identity and seeming completely out of his depth. Once again, Sport Republic's recruitment under scrutiny.

Many fans have been questioning the timing. What's the point when our fate is sealed? I'm very pleased with the timing. It allows us to maximise the window to find the right replacement. Let work commence immediately.

As glad as I am to see Saints making a move early, I just hope it is not a rash decision, like it was to appoint Juric in the first place.

We have time on our hands. Let's make the right decision for what appears to be a very important 2025-26 season.

Can Sport Republic get it right this time?

Find more from Ray Hunt at the In that Number podcast, external

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, PA Media

The die was cast in the summer, months before Ivan Juric even stepped into St Mary's.

Many around the club felt Southampton were returning to the Premier League with a weaker squad than the one which took them up from the Championship.

Returning to the Premier League without an experienced sporting director was viewed as a massive error by the ownership, after technical director Jason Wilcox's departure to Manchester United in May.

It left a huge question mark over their structure and the ownership's direction - which has only grown after the decision to hire and fire Juric.

The fall-out to the summer continued with head of recruitment Darren Mowbray leaving St Mary's in April, although sources told BBC Sport there was no issue with the players he was recommending.

Playing catch up after a poor summer left previous boss Russell Martin fighting an uphill battle, even with criticisms of his style, and he was ultimately sacked in December with the club bottom and nine points from safety.

Yet it only got worse under Juric who has won just two of his 16 games, including a 3-0 win over Swansea in the FA Cup, with Southampton suffering the Premier League's quickest relegation.

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton manager Ivan Juric has left the club after 108 days in charge following Sunday's confirmation of the Saints' relegation to the Championship.

Assistant Simon Rusk will take charge on an interim basis for the second time this season.

In a statement, the club said: "We can confirm that we have today reached an agreement with our men's first team manager, Ivan Juric, to end his spell at the club.

"Ivan came to Southampton at a tough time and was tasked with trying to improve a squad in a difficult situation. Unfortunately, we haven't seen performances progress the way we had hoped, but we would like to thank Ivan and his staff for their honesty and hard work as they fought against the odds to try and keep us up.

"With relegation to the Championship now confirmed, we believe it is important to give fans, players and staff some clarity on the future as we head into a very important summer.

"The process of finding a new manager to lead us as we look to secure an immediate return to the Premier League has now begun and is being led by group technical director Johannes Spors.

"In the meantime, Simon Rusk has agreed to take charge of the team as interim manager for the remaining seven fixtures of this season and will be assisted by Adam Lallana.

"We remain incredibly grateful for the ongoing of our fans. Their continued dedication and ion, despite what has been a very tough season, is remarkable and is appreciated by everyone at the club.

"Despite the challenges that relegation will bring, our goal is to restore a sense of pride for them in their team and club once again."

Adam Blackmore
BBC Radio Solent sports editor

Image source, Getty Images

Ivan Juric was always going to be the fall guy this season. He was brought in on a short deal, a low-risk option, knowing he was up against it from the start.

He hasn't helped himself at times, but I think he's a good guy who took a tough gig that was bigger than he thought!

Ivan Juric's Premier League record does not make for happy reading for Southampton fans.

He has overseen 14 matches, losing 12 and winning just once - a 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Ipswich in early February.

Since then, the 1-1 home draw against Crystal Palace on Wednesday is the only time Southampton have avoided defeat - and the earliest relegation in Premier League history was confirmed with defeat at Spurs.

In Juric's 14 games in charge Saints conceded 38 goals and scored just 12.

Image source, Getty Images

Manager Ivan Juric is set to leave Southampton after less than four months in charge.

The 49-year-old was appointed on 21 December following the dismissal of Russell Martin and has only been in charge for 107 days.

The news comes a day after their relegation to the Championship was confirmed by the Saints' 3-1 defeat by Tottenham on Sunday.

Juric has taken charge of 14 Premier League games and picked up just four points in that time.

What do you make of the news, Southampton fans?

Is this best for all parties or should he have taken them into next season?

Let us know

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's game between Tottenham and Southampton, which saw the Saints suffer the earliest relegation in Premier League history.

Here are some of your comments:

Steven: That first half was pathetic. There was no fight and no ion, nothing there at all. A slight improvement in the second half but, like most of the season, not good enough at all. The leadership at the top has a lot to answer for, with the appalling recruitment and total inability to right the wrongs.

Russell: Any team that loses to Tottenham deserves to be relegated, end of.

Daz: Absolutely abysmal! They deserve to be relegated after a poor and gutless season, with no fight shown. There has been no organisation from the top to the bottom of the club. The players don't care because they will move on to other clubs. The whole club, from the board downwards, needs rebuilding! It's embarrassing to be a Saints er.

Chris: Southampton are marching into history!

Jason: The mistake was not changing formation and playing Championship football. I'm sure they will get promoted again, along with the usual suspects of Leicester and Ipswich - and the loser of the Sheffield United, Burnley and Leeds United automatic promotion race.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Southampton player Jo Tessem says the fans have been "incredible" during a "really poor season" which has seen the club set another damning record of suffering the earliest relegation in Premier League history.

He praised them for "still coming and cheering" despite watching their team lose 25 Premier League games so far this season, with the latest defeat coming against Tottenham.

Speaking on BBC Radio Solent's Goin' Home With Adam And Jo podcast, Tessem said: "They have turned up in every game this season. They have ed and done everything they can to help the team.

"It is not down to them that the club has been relegated. If the players had shown the effort the ers have shown, it probably would have been a different story this season. We could have been in the Champions League next season!

"The most difficult problem we have is that we haven't got players good enough for the Premier League. We have to be that honest now, and I think the players need to be that honest with themselves.

"The reason we are in this situation is because we aren't good enough to play the football that would allow us to compete in the Premier League - and that is purely down to the players.

"We have proven that this season. After sacking Russell Martin, we got Ivan Juric in and the same problem has continued. The problem is the players are not good enough."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Highlights and analysis from Sunday's four Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.

Listen back to the weekend's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Crystal Palace 2-1 Brighton

• Aston Villa 2-1 Nottingham Forest

• Fulham 3-2 Liverpool

• Man Utd 0-0 Man City

The latest episode of BBC Radio Solent's 'Goin' Home With Adam And Jo' podcast has landed.

The team discuss Southampton becoming the earliest team in top flight history to be relegated after they were defeated 3-1 by Tottenham.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Defeat to Tottenham not only confirmed Southampton's relegation to the Championship, but broke the record for the earliest relegation in Premier League history.

No team had previously had relegation mathematically confirmed with seven or more games left to play.

If the Saints aren't careful they could end up making more unwanted history - they currently have one point less than the 11 Derby County finished with in 2007-08, the lowest points tally in Premier League history.

Though relegation is never easy to stomach, Southampton's fate was known long before Sunday afternoon.

Ivan Juric's side actually played with a degree of freedom in the second half, and made things interesting when Mateus Fernandes pulled a goal back in the 90th minute.

If they replicate that 45 minutes in at least one of their remaining seven games, they will at least avoid becoming the worst Premier League side in history.

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton captain Jack Stephens says the club's relegation from the Premier League is "humiliating", with Ivan Juric's side still rooted to the bottom of the table on 10 points after a 3-1 loss to Tottenham.

Speaking to BBC Radio Solent after the game, Stephens said: "It's obviously still fresh, but this season has been a massive disappointment. We are really disappointed in the dressing room. The lads are obviously really down. We are just gutted that we couldn't give the fans what they deserve, not only today but also this season as a whole."

On what he would say to the club's ers about this season: "First thing's first, we have to look at ourselves. That is what we will do and what we have spoken about already. We have to look in the mirror and ask ourselves whether we did everything we could and whether we have been good enough.

"Ultimately, the answer to the second question is that we have been nowhere near good enough.

"We can say that the gap between the Championship and the Premier League is getting bigger - which it is - but we shouldn't be relegated with seven games to go."

On what the mood has been like in Southampton's dressing room: "I won't accept anyone not giving 100% and I can stand here and say that hasn't been the case this season.

"This group of lads have given everything, have really worked hard at it and have stuck together. I would be the first person to tell you if the dressing room wasn't in a good place.

"We are low - we have been for a few months - but we have stuck together and stuck at it. I just hope that has reflected on the pitch. The bottom line is that we haven't been good enough, as individuals and as a team.

"I just genuinely believe we have fallen short. We haven't been good enough from day one and, once you get into that rut of losing games and conceding goals, it is very difficult to get out of it."

Listen to the full post-match interview on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton centre-back Jan Bednarek has been speaking to Premier League Productions: "Let's be honest, today is just official but we knew for a few weeks that relegation was coming. It was just a matter of time. Next season we will be in the Championship and it is the beginning of something new. We have to build something good around the club.

"We can't change the past, the only thing we can do in the last seven games is to enjoy being in the Premier League. We have to improve as players and as a club. Hopefully we are going to build something great.

"The best thing is that we can learn, we can work hard and we can improve. Hopefully we can perform better in the last seven games. We want to get more points, I don't think 10 is enough. Hopefully we will get more points."

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton manager Ivan Juric speaking to Sky Sports: "We know that we are in a bad situation and today was a certain thing. I cannot say anything bad about the players, it was a really tough year for everyone."

On what he wants to see between now and the end of the season: "I want to see the Crystal Palace game like we played the second half here. We have to try and play good games."

On discussions for his future: "No, now we will see everything. We are thinking just about the games now. We will see now what everyone thinks, what I think. The fans deserve much more and we have to understand all of the mistakes we have made and then create something really strong."

On avoiding Derby's 11-point record: "We have to avoid that record. Do our best. It cannot happen."