With whispers doing the rounds that Saints might turn to Ronald Koeman for their salvation, the big question is will Saints fans welcome him back ?
When Ronald Koeman left for Everton at the end of the 2015/16 season it was a big blow for Saints supporters, he had just led the club to it's best finish in over 30 years and there was a true feeling that we could establish ourselves as the 7th club in the Premier League.
But almost before the stands had been swept clean after the final home game against Crystal Palace that cemented that top six finish and another Europa League campaign, the media were full of news that Koeman was being courted by Everton and they would not take no for an answer.
This eventually proved the case with the Dutchman seemingly sacrificing his principles and indeed reneging on his recent statements that he intended to be at the club the following season when Everton made him one of the highest paid managers in the World let alone the Premier League and most would agree that every man has his price and from that viewpoint it is hard to blame Koeman for taking the money and running.
Certainly it seemed to be mainly about money rather than the merits of either Club, Koeman had led Saints to two finishes above the Toffee's and they were not in Europe, but apart from his own salary he was also being promised a massive war chest in the transfer market.
You felt from the start that Koeman and Everton were not a good fit, even at the press conference to unveil him he virtually admitted that he had expected to be at St Mary's for the coming season and had only joined because of the money, add to that was the fact he failed to make statements about Everton being a sleeping giant and the biggest club on Merseyside (shades of Ralph Krueger here) and he didn't exactly ingratiate himself to the Goodison faithful.
He had a good first season and took Everton to what was essentially their par place in the Premier League 7th, but that was not good enough for some and when Lukaku was sold and not replaced the writing was on the wall for Koeman especially as the club appeared to sign three players in the same position showing that perhaps Koeman was not completely in charge of transfers.
So Koeman was sacked and his dreams of managing Barcelona appear to be in tatters, but at Southampton he had found a club that suited him and the rumours are now growing stronger that he could be about to return and rebuild his reputation.
There are supposedly two main hurdles though and that is firstly his relationship with Les Reed and secondly would the fans accept him back ?
With regard to Reed, both are professionals and can probably work together again if only for the reason that both need to kick start their season again, Reed needs to bite the bullet and do what is best for the club and Koeman needs to get back into the game, you would hope that the events of two years ago would have seen lessons learnt.
The fans though are a different matter, but from those I have spoke to I am finding that the majority would welcome him back to the club, or at least be prepared to see him back.
When Koeman left it hurt because we all knew how good he was for this club, that if he had stayed then he had the potential to be the most successful manager in our history and the fact that he left us was a big blow.
But in life we have to get over hurt and for many the desperation to get rid of Mauricio Pellegrino might overcome their hatred of Ronald Koeman for leaving us.
Certainly for many of our more supporters who see a player or manager of a club leaving as nothing short of treason this would help to soften the blow.
For the majority of our supporters though, although they were hurt and angered for the manner of his departure, they can see the bigger picture, they can see why he would have left and understand why it was too good an offer financially to turn down, they can also see the need for a man of Koeman's stature to replace Pellegrino if the fans are to be placated and the reality is there aren't that many out there at the moment, so we perhaps need someone proven.
So would the majority of Saints supporters be willing to take Koeman back ?
In a recent poll we asked who Saints supporters would prefer to be Saints manager in January, only 15% said Pellegrino and the biggest vote was for Koeman with 35%, but that isnt a majority.
So wenow ask the question whether most Saints fans would welcome him back in our latest poll.
You can vote using the link below.
https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/southampton/members/!/polls/1939/would-yo