Reports Suggest Southampton Have Chosen Will Still’s Successor Ahead of Birmingham Clash
Multiple media outlets are reporting that Johannes Spors has decided who will replace Will Still at St Mary’s, with an announcement expected before Southampton face Birmingham City on Saturday.
Some are even describing the potential hire as a “new Nigel Adkins” — someone capable of guiding the club back to the Premier League and establishing long-term stability.
Rumours have intensified as several sources claim the decision is imminent. The expectation is that Southampton want a manager who can follow a similar path to Adkins, who earned back-to-back promotions and laid the groundwork for a solid return to the top flight.
However, the identity of the preferred candidate remains unclear. According to footballfancast.com, Michael Carrick is the leading contender. Their view is that Carrick’s background — strong playing credentials combined with managerial experience — gives him an advantage over interim boss Tonda Eckert, whose time in charge has been brief despite showing promise.
They also suggest Southampton are thinking ahead to Premier League survival should promotion be achieved, and want someone with the expertise to manage at that level.
In contrast, saintsmarching.com is reporting that the club might opt for continuity and install Eckert as the head coach for Saturday’s match. They believe the club may overlook Carrick’s experience and instead promote Eckert.
Their report states:
“Finalising the terms of his contract may take a little while, but a two-year agreement appears most likely. Eckert may be given the rest of this season to settle in and push for a top-six finish before expectations increase. Either way, he would be tasked with returning Southampton to the Premier League within two years.”
This possibility is likely to divide opinion among supporters. Many fans argue that Sport Republic have repeated this approach too often, putting inexperienced managers in charge with mixed — often negative — results.
Nathan Jones proved a major misstep, Ruben Selles struggled, and while Russell Martin delivered promotion, he then faltered in the Premier League. Ivan Jurić, despite his background, was also unable to steady the ship.
After that came Simon Rusk, who took over with relegation effectively sealed, and Will Still, whose short tenure unravelled quickly.
Sport Republic’s managerial history does not inspire confidence, and Spors himself has only made one permanent appointment so far — a decision that has been widely criticised.
With that in mind, all eyes will be on St Mary’s as the weekend approaches.
Supporters are waiting to see whether Thursday or Friday brings confirmation of the club’s next manager — a moment of clarity, hopefully more controlled than the “white smoke” seen two years ago when a warehouse beside the stadium caught fire.
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