Russell Martin probably hasn't finished clearing out his locker at Staplewood but the bookies have already compiled their books and a clear favourite has emerged, but will it be the one that the fans want.
Familiar names are on the short list at the bookies to replace Russell Martin and of course David Moyes & Graham Potter appear high on the list, as does West Bromwich Albian manager Carlos Corberan, but it is a familiar figure from a few years ago who tops the odds list as compiled by oddschecker.com
Topping the charts is former Saints assistant manager Danny Rohl, he spent around 8 months at St Mary's as the sidekick of Ralph Hasenhuttl, with whom he has also worked with at RV Leipzig before leaving Saints in August 2019 to take up a similar position at Bayern Munich.
There he was assistant to Hansi Flick and when Herr Flick left in June 2021 to take over as the German International head coach, Rohl again joined him as his assistant, they both held those positions until September 2023, when Flick was sacked.
Rohl was not out of work for long and he was appointed Sheffield Wednesday manager in October 2023 and he turned the club's fortunes round and saved them from the drop, this season they currently sit in 9th, just 5 points from the play off spots.
You can get 5/2 odds for him to get the Saints job.
Next up at 7/1 is Carlos Corberan followed by 10/1 David Moyes and 12/1 Graham Potter, although most bookies have them at 5 or 6/1.
At around the 14/1 mark is interim manager Simon Rusk, Ole Gunnar Soljskaer & Steve Cooper
After that the odds go out a bit, former manager Ralph Hasenhuttl is as low as 14/1, but mainly at 20/1 alongside the likes of Steven Gerrard, Michael Carrick.
I would imagine that Rohl is at the top of the list because of his previous connection to the club, but I would suggest that would have little real impact at St Mary's, given that no one in charge at the club these days was there when Rohl was Ralph's assistant.
So the big question now is how much pre preparation have Phil Parsons and his board been doing, how much sounding out of potential replacements for Russell Martin has been going on and just who is their favourite out of them.
The Southampton fans would want a proven big name so that would mean Moyes or Potter, but I suspect that Rohl & Corberan might well be who Saints first look to.
We can afford to go into the Carabao Cup game against Liverpool with Simon Rusk at the helm, although it is a shot at glory and we could have a good chance in this game due to the feel good factor that will be in St Mary's after the debacle on Monday night against Spurs, we really do need to have a permanent man in place for the trip to Fulham on Sunday.