Southampton backed to lure Mark Robins away from Stoke City - 'we should be all over that' | OneFootball

FLW's Southampton fan pundit has given his verdict on the possibility of appointing Mark Robins as manager

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Stoke City manager Mark Robins has emerged as a possible contender to take over at Southampton following Will Still’s dismissal.

It has been reported by Graeme Bailey that the 55-year-old is on the Saints’ shortlist of targets to take over the first team squad.

However, the likes of Frank Lampard and Gary O’Neil are also said to be under consideration by the Championship side.

Still was appointed as manager in the summer, but he only lasted 13 league games before the club opted for another change in the dugout.

Southampton have endured a difficult start to the season, while Stoke are third in the table and only four points behind leaders Coventry City.

Southampton urged to pursue Mark Robins

When asked about Robins as a potential candidate, FLW’s Southampton fan pundit Martin Sanders claimed he has to be at the top of their shortlist.

He praised Stoke for being one of the best teams to watch in the division, claiming that the former Coventry boss has got them organised and playing well.

“I love Mark Robins and what he’s done,” Sanders told Football League World.

“I tweeted it a while ago, I think he should be right in your top two, well experienced in the job he did at Coventry over a long period of time, you see what he’s done at Stoke.

“I love the way Stoke play football, best side I’ve seen in the flesh this year at St. Mary’s, best side I’ve seen in the Championship.

“I love the way they play with the wide men, with the pace, the power, and the way they work on the break, they’re organised, hard to break down.

“Mark Robins is a really good manager and we should be all over that.”

Sanders has raised some concerns over whether Robins would be willing to move to Southampton from Stoke: “Whether you can pry him away from Stoke City is another matter because they’re looking like a play-off fighter at this moment in time.

“Club’s well organised, working for a huge fan base with so much passion out there.

“It would be a hard one to prise him away, it really would.

“But I think he’s a great manager.”

Southampton are currently 21st in the Championship table following Still’s dismissal after 13 league games.

The Saints have won just two times so far this season, leaving them only three points clear of the relegation zone.

Still’s final game in charge was a 2-0 loss to Preston North End, with the club deciding to make a change on Sunday evening after a third defeat in a row.

Next up for the Hampshire outfit is a trip to face QPR on Wednesday evening in a 7.45pm kick-off.

Mark Robins appointment would be great for Southampton

Robins arrived at Stoke midway through last season and made a good first impression, turning around their form after a poor start to the season.

And now he has them competing at the top of the Championship table, just as he had Coventry before that fighting for promotion as well.

He has a proven track record at this level that makes him a very attractive option for the likes of Southampton.

However, it will be tricky to convince him to move from the third place team to the 21st place team at this moment, which could make him an ambitious target for the Saints.