How Matt Le Tissier has reacted to big Southampton news involving Will Still | OneFootball

The Saints legend has had his say on the sacking of Will Still.

Southampton icon Matt Le Tissier has revealed he has “mixed emotions” over the departure of Will Still, and believes the next manager needs to be a “big character” due to the lack of leaders in the Saints’ playing squad.

The South Coast outfit parted ways with Still yesterday evening after a 2-0 home defeat to Preston North End meant the club had tasted three successive losses and were winless in five second-tier outings.

Southampton currently sit 21st in the Championship table and just three points above the bottom three, a situation that couldn’t have been foreseen given the Saints’ strong budget and their possession of parachute payments following relegation from the Premier League last term.

But the team just couldn’t fire under Still, as the club won only two Championship games under his tenure, coming on the opening day against Wrexham and at the end of September against Sheffield United.

The question now is who will step into the frame? All is not lost for Southampton as they sit 10 points from the play-offs, and that gap can be cut pretty quickly with a string of positive results.

Journalist Alan Nixon has reported Russell Martin is “on standby” for a sensational return to St Mary’s, as he aims to turn his managerial career around following a disastrous short spell in charge of Rangers.

While a replacement is being sourced, Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier, who reached the Premier League 100-club in red and white, has outlined his thoughts on Still’s departure and what the club need to do next to transform their fortunes.

Matt Le Tissier reveals “mixed emotions” over Will Still exit and slams Saints’ lack of leaders

In a video posted onto his X account, Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier voiced his thoughts over the sacking of Will Still, admitting he had mixed emotions about his departure, but insisting his replacement will have to be a “strong character” due to the lack of leaders in the playing squad.

Le Tissier said: “So Southampton have parted ways with Will Still this evening, and mixed emotions for me really, because I got on with Will, I liked him, I think he’s a good guy, and I wish him all the best wherever he resurfaces next.

"But being where we are in the Championship table, given that our budget is probably in the top two or three clubs in the whole league, meant that the club decided to act pretty swiftly, and hopefully we appoint a new manager pretty soon because I don’t think we need to drift in these situations with caretaker managers and all of that sort of stuff.

“Now I’ve sat and watched pretty much every home game this season and a few of the away ones, and I’ve got my opinions on what I think is missing from the team, and the club know where I am if they ever want those opinions, but like all fans, I just want the best for the club and I think that means getting behind the new man, whoever gets chosen, because I think the team need a lift, the boys are very low on confidence.

“I do think there is a lack of real leaders in that team, but I don’t think that’s Southampton in particular. I think that’s football in general, society in general.

“So, hopefully, the new manager is going to have to be a big character who can turn this team around, so I’m looking forward to seeing who gets appointed, and we go again at QPR on Wednesday night and then back to St Mary’s on Saturday and, hopefully, get some points in the bag.”

Southampton need to get next managerial appointment right to save their Championship campaign

The start to the season for Southampton has been dreadful and nowhere near where most supporters could have envisaged the club to be after 13 league games.

When looking at the squad, it’s definitely good enough on paper, given there is so much Championship experience in the ranks, but clearly Will Still’s methods just weren’t good enough to get the players firing after a miserable time in the top-flight.

The next managerial appointment will be crucial, as the Saints could be tumbling towards a relegation battle if this kind of form carries on.

However, if they can have a resurgence and a new lease of life under a different regime, then the club could hurl themselves back into the promotion conversation, with the timing of the sacking not too late to turn their campaign around.

A return for Russell Martin has been mentioned. Of course, he did achieve promotion with Southampton to the Premier League but didn’t prove his capabilities in the top-flight, and he really struggled to handle the pressure of the Rangers job when appointed to the Ibrox hotseat.

The phrase “you should never go back” springs to mind about this, as there will be doubts over his managerial credentials if he was to come back to the South Coast.