Ranking Southampton FC's top 7 best managers based on PPG - Nigel Adkins = 3rd | OneFootball

Southamptonare just one match away from securing an immediate return to the Premier League.

The Saints face Leeds United at Wembley for a place in the top flight, with Russell Martin hopeful of masterminding a promotion during his first season in charge on the South Coast.

Should the 38-year-old guide Southampton past Daniel Farke's side, it would put him among the elite managers that have stood in the St Mary's dugout over the years, with the club hopeful of returning to their glory years in English football's top division.

With that being said, Football League World has taken a look at the Saints' best managers when looking at their PPG average, only taking into consideration those that were in charge of at least 25 games, as per Transfermarkt's records.

7 Glenn Hoddle

Having had his contract terminated by the FA with the England national team, Glenn Hoddle found himself back in management a year later with the Saints.

He would spend just over a year on the South Coast, keeping Southampton in the Premier League with a 15th-placed finish, before leaving in March 2001 to return to Tottenham Hotspur, this time as their manager.

Of his 53 games in charge of the club, Hoddle averaged 1.47 points per game, ranking him among the top bosses that the Saints have seen over the years.

6 Lawrie McMenemy

Just ahead of Hoddle is Southampton legend, Lawrie McMenemy. Of those on the list, the now 87-year-old spent the longest time at the St Mary's helm, with his tenure lasting 4213 days.

During his time at the club, McMenemy helped the Saints lift the FA Cup in 1976, while also being the runner-up in both the First and Second Division, as well as just missing out on the Football League Cup, having lost to Nottingham Forest in the final.

Having left the club in June 1985, the Englishman is still fondly remembered among supporters, and his Saints record finished with an average of 1.48 points per game, which is quite staggering considering he managed just over 600 games.

5 George Burley

Following the departure of Harry Redknapp in December 2005, George Burley was appointed as his replacement, with a huge restructure at the club taking place following his arrival.

His second season at the club saw the Scotsman lead Southampton to a place in the play-offs, but were unable to secure a place in the final, having lost on penalties to Derby County in the semi-final.

Burley would leave the Saints in January 2008 as he became Scotland's new international manager. Of his 109 games in charge, he would win or draw 70 of those, leaving him with an average of 1.55 points per game.

4 Ronald Koeman

Having mainly managed in his home nation of the Netherlands, Ronald Koeman made the switch to the Premier League in 2014, taking over from Mauricio Pochettino at St Mary's.

And the former Barcelona defender's time at Southampton was one filled with success. In just his second season at the club, the Dutchman had propelled the Saints into the Europa League following their highest ever finish and points tally in the top flight.

Koeman would move the following season to Everton, ending his time at the South Coast club with an average of earning 1.64 points per game from his 91 games in charge.

3 Nigel Adkins

Nigel Adkins arrived at St Mary's in 2010 from Scunthorpe United, having parted company with Alan Pardew just three days into the new season.

During his three years at the club, the Birkenhead-born manager guided the Saints to two runner-up finishes in League One and the Championship, becoming the first manager in the club's history to achieve back-to-back promotions.

Adkins would last until midway through the 2012/13 Premier League season before being replaced by Mauricio Pochettino, ending his time on the South Coast with an impressive average of 1.82 points per game.

Southampton's current manager just misses out on the top spot on the list in what has been a remarkable first full season in charge of the club.

The former MK Dons and Swansea City manager guided the Saints to a fourth-placed finish in the Championship this term, overcoming West Bromwich Albion in the play-off semi-final to set up a mouth-watering encounter with Leeds United at Wembley.

Having managed 53 games in all competitions so far, Martin has won over half of his games in charge, leaving him with an impressive total average of 1.85 points per game.

1 Alan Pardew

And the man with the highest points per game average of any Southampton manager is former Newcastle United and West Ham United boss, Alan Pardew.

The now 63-year-old was appointed in July 2009 after new owner, Marcus Liebherr, sacked Mark Wotte a day after completing a deal to save the club. Despite a 10-point deduction, Pardew led the club up the League One table, but just missed out on a play-off place.

However, he would bring silverware to St Mary's that same season as his side triumphed at Wembley in the League Trophy final, comfortably beating Carlisle United 4-1 to give the Saints their first trophy since 1976.

Pardew was dismissed by the club five months later amid reports of low staff morale and conflicts between Pardew and the club's hierarchy. He would leave the club after 64 games, with an average of 1.92 points per game during his time at St Mary's.