Southampton are enduring the nadir of their tenure in the Premier League since last clinching promotion from the EFL Championship, and have churned through two permanent managers this season amid the turmoil that has left the once impressive squad facing relegation in the depths of the second tier.
What’s the latest in Southampton’s managerial pursuit?
Only last week, recently dismissed Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch was expected to take the reins at St. Mary’s, with the finalities over a deal being ironed over, but an irrevocable snag was hit concerning contract length, and the appointment unravelled.
Preceding that, Nathan Jones lasted only eight league matches in charge of the club, losing a miserable seven times and exacerbating the woes that have plummeted the club into the pit of relegation worry.
But with Ruben Selles, who has been second-in-command at the outfit since arriving in the summer, winning his first league outing as caretaker manager against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last weekend, the pursuit of a new boss might sever the external search, opting for the internal option instead.
Is Selles the right man for the job?
There are some affiliated with the Premier League that might cast a rueful shake of the head at the notion of offering the platform to the inexperienced Selles in the midst of arguably the most crucial period of Saints’ tenure in the Premier League since landing promotion in 2011.
But such a brazen stand from Sport Republic, who acquired an 80% stake in the south coast club only last year, could well bear fruit for the squad, who are in need of solidity and cohesion to ensure that the new era at the club does not take a detrimental tumble.
According to The Athletic, the players and backroom staff are unanimous in their desire to keep Selles in the dugout over the imperative looming period of football.
Indeed, Southampton are in 20th place in the Premier League, but after the recent victory over Chelsea, are just one point adrift from Leeds United.
The aforementioned report from The Athletic reveals that the 24 fouls committed by Saints at Stamford Bridge was the most of any top-flight English outfit this term, which embodies the desire to get stuck in and perform for their energetic manager with a relentless attitude.
While some might frown upon the excessive physicality, it is this level of might that is required if a flagging team is to steer away from relegation; a dogfight will not be won by the meek.
And with the Whites awaiting in the forthcoming divisional encounter, Selles, who was described as a “ball of energy” by Charlie Gordon, has a golden opportunity to continue to dazzle and elevate the outfit from bottom spot, perhaps even out of the drop-zone in its entirety.
Not only did Saints look more fluid against Chelsea, but they looked galvanised into action, spurred like a storming steed in a joust, finally unearthing some semblance of the former vigour and vitality that had left them so sustained in their endeavours under Ralph Hasenhuttl, who was dismissed after five years earlier this term.
Considering Selles, who has built a concrete rapport with his peers both on the pitch and behind the lines at Southampton, declared that he does indeed desire the full-time role of manager in Hampshire, and after the tumultuous, fleeting, tenure of Jones, a different stratagem could prove successful.
With this in mind, Selles’ stay in Southampton could stretch to a more expansive field, and if Leeds are beaten in Yorkshire on Saturday, there is no question that disrupting the tenuous harmony, which is already showing signs of strengthening, would only occur with another managerial shift.
For now, however, the initial signs indicate that he could well keep them in the division; wouldn’t that be a story?