Now that the position is now officially vacant, the real contenders for the job are emerging out from a plethora of names that have been linked.
Whilst Claude Puel was still in the job it was hard to sort out the wheat from the chafe with a large number of names being linked with replacing him, but now he has officially gone the rumours will still flow, but the picture will be clearer as to who is a serious contender and who isn't.
The early favourite of both the supporters and the bookmakers was Thomas Tuchal formerly of Borussia Dortmund, however the German has apparently ruled himself out of the running, although to be truthful stranger things have happened in football than what would be a big about turn should he turn out to be the man for the job.
After all how many times did Ronald Koeman say that he was not interested in the Everton job last year ?
The two main favourites though are Frank De Boer is again the bookies favourite as he was at this time last year and he is closely followed by Mauricio Pellegrino.
De Boer would appear to be the man who would best fit the job description at St Mary's, after a successful playing career and a lot of international experience he learn't his coaching skills at Ajax and took charge there in in December 2010 staying till the summer of 2016 in the interim winning 4 Eridivisie titles and turning down an approach from Liverpool.
Last summer he looked to be heading for St Mary's but took the job at Inter Milan which proved to be a poisoned chalice, ironically his one win in the Europa League and one of his last games in charge at the San Siro for the Italian's was against Saints a result which cost Saints dearly.
Now he could finally be arriving at St Mary's and from the candidates being named he would probably be the one that the Saints fans would prefer, even if it is because in many respects he would appear to be working to a similar formula as Ronald Koeman who was on his way to being the most successful manager at Southampton since Lawrie McMenemy when he suddenly lost his principles.
Mauricio Pellegrino is a little lesser known he has good grounding as an assistant coach under Rafa Benitez at both Liverpool and ironically Inter Milan, but his record as the main man is rather chequered, he was sacked by Valencia after two year, sacked in his home country by Estudiantes after two years, he left Independiente after only a season and last term was sacked by Alaves after only a year at the helm despite getting them to the Spanish Cup final and 9th in the League which all sounds a little familiar.
Both men are also being courted by Crystal Palace amongst others meaning that Saints need to be acting quickly if they want to get their first choice.
The dark horse in the race is Ryan Giggs who is making plenty of noises in the press about his first managerial appointment, although there is some merit in appointing Giggs it has to be said that he does not have the experience and in general those who have enjoyed big playing careers and move straight into managing a top club (or Portsmouth) without the real grounding generally fail, think Tim Sherwood and Tony Adams.
The press are saying that Saints are intending interviewing both De Boer and Pellegrino although you would hope that with the season finished over a month ago that we would be at a more advanced stage in negotiations than is immediately apparent.