Will Still linked with new club after Southampton FC sacking - twist has emerged | OneFootball

Former Southampton manager Will Still was under consideration by French side Nantes, but he is no longer in the running for the job.

Former Southampton boss Will Still has been linked with a return to management with Nantes, but he is reportedly no longer in the frame to take over at the French outfit.

After successful spells in France with Reims and Lens, Still made the move to English football this summer when he was appointed as manager of Southampton following their relegation from the Premier League.

The Saints were widely tipped to challenge for an immediate return to the top flight under Still, particularly after bringing in a host of big money signings such as Caspar Jander, Tom Fellows, Finn Azaz, Leo Scienza and Damion Downs, but it certainly did not work out that way.

Still won just four of his 16 games in charge of Southampton in all competitions, drawing six and losing six, and he was sacked in early November with his side sitting just outside the relegation zone in the Championship.

In a candid interview after his exit from St Mary's, Still admitted that he "didn't do well enough" during his brief spell at the club, and while he insisted he was planning to "take the time to do things right for the next step" before returning to work, it seems he has been on the radar of a number of clubs over the past month.

Still reportedly held talks with Norwich City over their vacant managerial position prior to the appointment of Philippe Clement, and Nantes are the latest club he has been linked with since being dismissed by the Saints, but according to French outlet L'Équipe, he has now been ruled out of the running for the job.

Fresh twist emerges in Will Still, Nantes situation after Southampton exit

While Nantes do still officially have a manager, Luis Castro was believed to be on the verge of the sack at the Estadio de la Beaujoire, with the 45-year-old said to no longer be on speaking terms with some members of the club's board, particularly after he publicly criticised the quality of his squad.

Castro only took over at Nantes in the summer after a strong spell in charge of second division side Dunkerque, but he has won just two of his 15 games at the helm, drawing five and losing eight.

Nantes were beaten 2-1 at home by league leaders Lens on Saturday, and they dropped into the automatic relegation places the following day after Auxerre's win over Metz, and it appeared that defeat could be the final straw for Castro.

As they weighed up a managerial change, it was reported that Still was one of the names under consideration by Nantes, but L'Équipe claim that possible option has now been "closed", and Castro will be given until the winter break to turn his side's fortunes around.

While Still's time with Southampton did not go to plan, he made a name for himself during his 18-month spell at Reims before leading Lens to an eighth-placed finish in Ligue 1 last season, and although he will not be taking over at Nantes, it seems he is still highly regarded in French football.

France return would make sense for Will Still after Southampton nightmare

Still was regarded as one of the most talented young managers in Europe before his move to Southampton, but despite having one of the best squads in the Championship at his disposal, his spell at St Mary's was a disaster.

The Saints' significant improvement under Tonda Eckert in recent weeks does not reflect particularly well on Still, but having been linked with Norwich and Nantes since his exit, it appears his disappointing stint on the South Coast has not done too much damage to his reputation.

After his Southampton setback, Still will be keen to prove himself in English football, but a return to France could be the perfect way for him to get his career back on track, and he will likely be on the radar of other Ligue 1 clubs during the course of the season.