“I trust” - Ross Stewart sends message to Southampton hierarchy over Will Still appointment | OneFootball

This will be Still's inaugural first-team job in England.

Ross Stewart has backed the Southampton hierarchy's decision to bring in Will Still as he aims to play a more active first-team role next season.

Saints' new boss was in attendance for the club's final game of the 2024/25 campaign - a 2-1 loss to Arsenal.

It was a more valiant performance by the players in front of their home crowd than some of their other displays since the start of August. Ultimately, it was a 30th league defeat in 38 games for the Hampshire outfit, a record that Still will look to change in the Championship.

He arrives from French side RC Lens having worked as their boss for just one season. Before that, the 32-year-old gained infamy with another Ligue 1 side, Stade Reims.

Ross Stewart backs Southampton hierarchy's Will Still decision

Despite having no experience in England, he is being backed by the players to succeed, namely Stewart.

The Scottish striker, who netted his first Southampton goal in front of Still against Arsenal, has shown his public faith in the decision made by the club's hierarchy.

"He's not had any conversations. We only found out prior to this game that it was done. From previous clubs, I know he will bring his own ideas," the 28-year-old said, via the Daily Echo.

"There's a lot of lads looking forward to working under him. It'll just be one where, when we come back now for pre-season, he'll be the man in charge.

"We'll all come back with a hunger, as I'm sure he will, to get this club back to where they want to be in the Premier League."

"I'm sure the top of the club would have done their homework on him.

"I trust that they got the right appointment. Like I said, the club's looking forward to working under him.

"Obviously, we realise it's been a tough season. All of us need to go our way and get away from it for a spell and come back with that hunger, which I've got no doubt we will.

"We've got a good group here, we've got a good breed of experience and youth, and we'll come back with the view to go and get ourselves promoted."

Ross Stewart could be a big part of Will Still's Southampton revolution

After essentially two seasons out with various injuries, Stewart finally got back into the rhythm of playing in the final six-to-seven weeks of the term, starting three matches for interim boss Simon Rusk.

He hopes that his more positive end to the campaign can carry over into pre-season and the start of the Will Still era.

If Stewart can find the form that earned him his initial £8 million move to St Mary's two summers ago, the new boss and his teammates will be all the better for it.

He scored 10 goals in 13 Championship games for Sunderland before picking up his devastating achilles injury in January 2023 that started this run of poor luck with fitness, and 26 in the campaign prior to that in the third tier.

This season's Saints top scorer, in the Premier League - Paul Onuachu - found the back of the net on four occasions.

If Southampton can get the 2023 Stewart, the one that they invested potentially £12 million in, including add-ons, their chances of an immediate Premier League return will certainly be boosted.