3 EFL managers that must be on Southampton FC's radar as big Ivan Juric news emerges | OneFootball

FLW look at three EFL managers that could take the Southampton FC job.

Southampton FC have today (07/04/2025) confirmed that they have departed company with Ivan Juric after the club's relegation to the Championship was confirmed.

It has been a miserable season for the Saints who, after their magical Championship Play-Off Final win over Leeds United last season, have managed to accumulate just 10 points in their opening 31 Premier League games.

Russell Martin led the team until mid-December, but his sacking was followed by the appointment of Ivan Jurić. However, the Croatian fared no better, and his tenure was cut short before the season's end after a 3-1 defeat to a struggling Tottenham Hotspur side confirmed his departure and their spot in the second tier next year.

A statement from the board of Southampton FC read: "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."

With the process now firmly underway, Football League World has identified three potential EFL managerial candidates that the club could consider.

3 Danny Rohl

The first and most obvious contender is Sheffield Wednesday's Danny Rohl.

The German head coach has done a fantastic job at Hillsborough this season, transforming a club that was previously battling for survival into a team that was challenging for a playoff spot until recently.

It is understood that, prior to Jurić's appointment, Southampton had considered Rohl but were deterred by his substantial £4 million release clause for a Premier League side. However, with their recent relegation, this no longer applies in the Championship, meaning it would now only cost the South Coast club half that amount to secure his services.

TalkSport understands that, as of this morning, Rohl remains under consideration for the role, alongside former Hull City boss Liam Rosenior.

He would undoubtedly be a strong appointment, and although recent form has dipped, he has been hindered at Wednesday by ownership issues.

His record stands at 33 wins, 16 draws, and 34 losses from 83 matches, with a points-per-game (PPG) average of 1.39. Should he be offered the job at St Mary's, he is likely to improve this PPG, and with more stable ownership, he could guide Southampton back to the Premier League.

A name that has gone under the radar this season in the Championship is Bristol City's Liam Manning.

The 39-year-old joined the Robins halfway through the 2023-24 season, and in his first full campaign, he has brought them close to the coveted play-offs. City have been in the division since the 2015-16 season and have rarely come as close to the top six as they are now.

Currently occupying sixth place with six games to go, he has built one of the most formidable midfields in the division, with the partnership of Jason Knight and Max Bird helping to control games for City.

Some may argue that a move to Southampton would be a sideways step, but if Bristol City remain in the same league, it could prove to be a good step-up for Manning.

The head coach would be afforded more funds and his continuation of a back three system would likely make the transition more seamless, allowing them to tackle the Championship head-on next season.

He has also done excellent work with young players, as seen with the development of talents like Knight, Bird, Anis Mehmeti, and Luke McNally. Southampton, with their youthful squad, would likely benefit from his ability to nurture young talent and Manning is certainly an option to consider.

Moving down a division to League One we have a viable option in Richie Wellens.

The former Leicester City player has managed at Oldham Athletic, Swindon Town, Salford City and Doncaster Rovers, but it is Leyton Orient where he has had his most success.

Joining the club in 2022, he earned promotion from League Two during his first season with the club and has steadied Orient in the fourth tier. Last year, they finished 11th, and this season, they still have an outside chance of making the play-offs if they finish strongly.

If Southampton were to appoint Wellens, it would represent something of a project appointment.

The 45-year-old focuses on having a strong defence, but at the same time, he plays a slick brand of football designed to provide attacking output.

Wellens prefers a four-at-the-back formation, which would require further adjustments to the Saints' squad. However, this could be exactly what they need, as the previous system clearly didn't suit them as they transitioned to the top flight.

While some may view this as a 'cheap appointment', it is actually a highly viable option. The former Swindon manager has earned his opportunity in the Championship after proving himself in the divisions below.