Southampton Football Club has parted ways with their manager, Will Still, after a mere 13 Championship games. The decision comes as the Saints find themselves in a precarious position, sitting in 21st place in the league and only three points above the relegation zone. The 33-year-old, who was the youngest manager in the English Football League, departs a mere five months into his three-year contract.
Still's tenure at St. Mary's was marked by a struggle to find consistency and secure wins. Of the 13 league matches he oversaw, Southampton managed to win only two. Their last victory came in September against Sheffield United. The team's recent form has been particularly concerning, with three consecutive defeats against Blackburn Rovers, Bristol City and Preston North End. The latest setback, a 2-0 home loss to Preston, seemingly proved to be the final straw.
The club has announced that Tonda Eckert, the under-21s head coach, will take interim charge of the first team. Still's assistants, Rubén Martinez, Clément Lemaitre, and Carl Martin, have also left the club.
Johannes Spors, Southampton's technical director, acknowledged Still's efforts but emphasized the need for a change to improve the team's trajectory. "Will is a great person who gave everything to try and improve performances and results," Spors said. "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". He further thanked Still and his staff for their contributions and wished them well in their future endeavors.
Still's appointment in May was initially met with optimism, as he arrived with a promising reputation after his work with French club Lens. However, despite having the opportunity to implement his philosophy and integrate new signings, the team failed to deliver consistent results.
Adding to the club's woes, Southampton defender Nathan Wood has publicly apologized for verbally abusing supporters following the defeat against Preston. "I'm regretful that I let my emotions get the better of me, and I take full accountability for them," Wood stated. "I will learn from this and will do my best to improve our performances on the pitch".
The club now faces the challenge of finding a suitable replacement to guide them out of their current predicament and steer them towards promotion contention. The next appointment will be crucial as Southampton aim to climb back up the league table and fulfill their ambitions for the season.
