New Southampton manager has high hopes for team in restructured WSL2 this season | OneFootball

Simon Parker has been appointed as the new Southampton women’s manager

Simon Parker was confirmed as the new Southampton women’s manager at the beginning of July and he already has high expectations for the team.

The Saints finished ninth in the second division last year, their worst finish since being promoted to the Championship.

With last season so disappointing for Southampton the club parted ways with Remi Allen in February.

Allen left the team by mutual consent, with Marieanne Spacey-Cale taking over as interim boss until Simon Parker was hired.

“The league is super competitive, and last season wasn’t the greatest for Southampton. We know we’re in a transitional period.” Parker said in his first interview.

“Whenever that happens, there’s an element of the unknown. How quickly do the players embed new ideas from the coach while also getting to know each other?”

Southampton have been extremely busy in the transfer window so far, making over 10 signings ahead of the new campaign.

Although odds aren’t yet out for the WSL2, Southampton are sure to be one of the favourites to earn promotion this season with UK betting sites.

Expectations high for Southampton women

Under Parker there is a new sense of hope surrounding the team and the manager certainly has high hopes for his debut season.

“The minimum thing we want to do is to be competitive. With the players that we have and the facilities, the potential is huge.

“With the three teams getting promoted, I’m not here to say our aim is to win the league. It’s not. We want to be incredibly competitive.”

The WSL expansion offers a huge opportunity for clubs in the second division next year, with the top two automatically promoted to accommodate the new 14-team WSL.

Third place in the WSL2 will also face off in a playoff match against bottom of the WSL for promotion.

Parker continued: “We want to be in the conversation come the end of the season. Can we be one of those three teams? That would be success for us.

“Seeing improvements from last year, making sure that there’s more of an identity to who we are as a club and that we’re going in the right direction.”

Parker started his managerial career with Southampton in 2016 so the surroundings will be familiar to the new boss.

After two years on the South coast Parker hopped around various international clubs before returning to England with Blackburn Rovers in 2023.

Southampton kick off their season with a trip to Ipswich on September 6th.