Exclusive: Don Goodman issues Southampton FC "enormous overhaul" warning | OneFootball

The Saints are looking to appoint a new head-coach following their relegation back to the Championship

Former footballer and current Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman has urged Southampton supporters to stay patient with whoever comes in as their new boss ahead of their return to the Championship next season, with a tough task on their hands to get the club back on the right track following a dismal Premier League campaign.

The Saints have massively struggled in the top-flight this season, and their relegation back to the second-tier was confirmed in early April as they became the first team in Premier League history to go down with as many as seven games of the campaign remaining.

It is fair to say that the writing was on the wall for some time this term, and they will have long begun preparations for next season as they aim to challenge near the top of the second-tier once again.

It remains to be seen who will be in charge at St Mary's, following Ivan Juric's departure on the day they were officially relegated, but the club have been linked to appointing numerous bosses over the last few weeks, with an official hire surely set to be confirmed soon.

Don Goodman issues Southampton 'patience' verdict ahead of return to the Championship

Southampton won promotion back to the top-flight at the first time of asking in the play-off final against Leeds United last year, after they had been relegated in 2023 following ten consecutive years in the Premier League.

The Saints were one of the numerous teams that looked to challenge the status quo of the 'Big Six' over that decade, and they regularly finished inside the top-half, while also qualifying for Europa League football twice.

Just a few years on and they are in real danger of being stuck in a cycle of constant relegation and promotion, with their latest top-flight escapade being their worst yet. Russell Martin led them to promotion, but his stubborn style saw them achieve very little success in the first-half of the campaign, with Croatian boss Juric hired in December to try and save their season.

The 49-year-old proved to be a poor appointment, and he won just two of his 16 games in charge before departing in early April, just five months after his arrival.

Southampton are now on the hunt for a new boss to take over ahead of their return to the second-tier, with Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl a reported front-runner, while the likes of Eric Ramsay and Will Still have also been linked to the job. They do not seem to be close to an imminent appointment right now though, with interim coach Simon Rusk set to see out the Premier League season at the helm.

Sky Sports co-commentator and pundit Don Goodman has stressed the size of the task at hand for whoever becomes their new head-coach, and has urged supporters at St Mary's to remain patient if things do not instantly go their way next season.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Goodman said: “It’s not for me to say who Southampton should appoint as manager, and whether Danny Rohl should still be the number one choice.

“It’s clear that it is a football club that needs a massive, enormous overhaul in the summer. That will be of the coaching staff and of the playing staff.

“It’s a job where patience may be required, a difficult job. You’re taking over a club who are currently matching the record for the lowest points ever in Premier League history.

“That’s a tag that they won’t want, so they will be focused on trying to get at least a point to avoid that tag. Their performances have been really poor. They haven’t been competitive.

“It’s a big, massive overhaul, and massive transition, which won’t be guaranteed to reap instant rewards.”

Southampton are set to appoint a new boss soon - numerous coaches have been linked to the job

Southampton have a huge decision to make in appointing their new head-coach, so it is understandable as to why they are taking their time to make sure they pick the right man as they aim for an immediate promotion out of the second-tier once again.

They have been linked with a whole host of potential new bosses since Juric's departure, with Wednesday head-coach Rohl long believed to be a main target to take over at St Mary's for next season.

The ex-Saints assistant coach has insisted that he will only decide on his future at the end of the season, but Football Insider have recently claimed that he would be open to taking over at fellow relegated side Leicester City, with current manager Ruud van Nistelrooy expected to be sacked soon, which may serve as a blow to Southampton's chances of getting him in this summer.

RC Lens boss Will Still is believed to have met with the club's hierarchy for talks over potentially taking charge, but talkSPORT claim that the club are determined to take their time with the appointment, which makes sense given that there is still another month until the Premier League campaign comes to an end.

Minnesota United manager Eric Ramsay is the other in-work manager who is thought to be a target for the south-coast club, with ESPN reporting that they have made contact with his representatives as they search for a new boss. The Welshman has played down those links, however, stating the claim was "news to me" in a recent interview.

Who is going to take over at St Mary's remains a mystery as it stands, and it seems likely to stay that way for a few weeks to come as the Saints look to finish their poor season on a rare high under interim boss Rusk. It is clear that whoever is placed in charge will have a tough job on their hands, but the upside to doing well could be a place in the Premier League in 2026, provided they get things right this summer.