Tonda Eckert has chance to be next Southampton manager
Southampton will aim to accelerate their plans to land a new manager over the coming weeks after they opted to part ways with Will Still.
Still‘s last game in charge of the Saints came as they lost 2-0 to Preston last weekend, and despite some impressive performances, results were not good enough.
Southampton have dropped down to 19th in the Championship table, with just three wins from 14 games so far alongside six draws and five defeats.
Interim boss Tonda Eckert led the team to a 2-1 win against QPR in midweek, and is looking to build on that early success as Sheffield Wednesday visit St Mary’s.
Eckert is seen as a key contender for the permanent manager’s position, despite the Saints assessing other options, with all eyes on the 32-year-old.
Tonda Eckert could land permanent Southampton job
Football Insider revealed on 3 November that Southampton were considering Russell Martin among a number of high-profile bosses to come in and replace Still.
However, as I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Eckert could earn himself the permanent job and is one of they main options under consideration as the Saints ramp up their search for a new boss.
Eckert’s chances of securing the role will depend on how he performs during his interim period, and a string of positive results could land him the job.
Speaking on the Inside Track podcast, I explained: “For Southampton, it was a disappointing start for them under Will Still.
“That win against QPR in midweek was their first since the end of September and helped them climb up the table and away from the relegation zone.
“It was a good start for the interim boss, Tonda Eckert, to get that win against QPR.
“He’ll be given maybe a few games to see if he could potentially go on and get the job on a permanent basis, if he can put together a strong run of results.
“They have such a talented squad, they should be higher up the table and challenging for promotion, so it’s still an attractive job for a number of candidates.
“So I’m sure Southampton over the coming weeks will be looking to get their house in order and bring in a new manager.“
Sheffield Wednesday’s visit is seen as crucial to Southampton’s trajectory this season and could see them close the gap to the playoffs to just five points depending on results elsewhere.
Russell Martin return update emerges at St Mary’s
While Eckert remains among the key contenders for the role, talk about a potential return for Martin is refusing to go away as their manager search continues.
Football Insider revealed on 7 November that Martin is still held in high regard at Southampton and has admirers in the boardroom, so his return has not been ruled out.
Having led them to promotion from the Championship during his last spell, there is a feeling he could do so again despite their eventual relegation from the Premier League.
Among the others tipped for the job are Coventry City boss Frank Lampard and Stoke City’s Mark Robins, with both currently flying high in the Championship.
However, Saints legend Matt Le Tissier told Football Insider that Lampard and Robins are unlikely to join Southampton given their current situations.
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