According to the Independent, Saints are already sounding out possible replacements should they choose to sack Claude Puel after only one season.
Saints are about to sack Claude Puel according to the Independent newspapers on line portal and they have already sounded out two candidates according to their story.
The two are Portugese managers Marco Silva currently at Hull City and Carlos Carvalhal of Sheffield Wednesday although understandably both are concentrating on their current club's endeavors to be in the Premier League next season.
Silva has an 18 month deal at Hull, but their is a break clause if they are relegated and he appears to be favourite for the job even if Hull stay up given the Humberside club's ownership issues.
Carvalhal would almost certainly stay at Hillsborough if the Owl's are promoted.
Puel's position will be formally reviewed at the end of the season according to the report, but the board will surely not be unaware of issues in the dressing room, poor performances on the pitch and lastly the apathy of the Saints supporters of late, season ticket sales seem to be slow judging by those on social media who claim not to be renewing if Puel is in charge and the club will not be insensitive to this.
Saints problem is that none of their candidates is willing to talk formally or commit until the season is over and they can start to sort the situation out.
They would feel that they have given Puel every chance to turn things around of late but with every game the levels of performance seems to get worse and it is heading in one direction now unless Saints win their remaining three matches and Puel shows both the supporter base and club that he is the man for the job, but that is perhaps a task that is beyond redemption now.
Saints do want to avoid a lengthy period without a manager thus leaving them open to accusations that they are not in control of the situation, therefore they would prefer to have their replacement lined up before dismissing Puel, however the clamor in the supporter base is for action and their is no patience.