Two of the club's most trusted confidante's in the media have indicated that it is now only a matter of time for Claude Puel as manager of Southampton Football Club.

Most news stories whether in the written media, broadcasting or online tend to all follow an earlier story usually with little substance and then the story esculates so that it starts to look like it's true.

In the case of Southampton Football Club there are three main journalists who are close to the club and are the ones that when they put out a story it has some substance, they are Adam Leitch of the Daily Echo, Adam Blackmore of Radio Solent and Jeremy Wilson formerly of the Echo and now Deputy Football Correspondent at the Telegraph.

This morning apparently Adam Blackmore has mentioned that Claude Puel is on the verge of leaving the club and this has been followed by an article on line by Jeremy Wilson.

Wilson states that Puel remains likely to be sacked as Southampton manager but a definitive decision has not be made until the club have completed their search for a potential successor.

He goes on to say

"Supporters are also restless over the style of football, which resulted in only 41 league goals. Only Sunderland ended the season with fewer home goals."

"As revealed by Telegraph Sport last month, Puel’s future was already in serious doubt even at the start of May and Southampton were always planning to review his situation and see if they could make what they would regard as an improvement."

"Southampton considered the former Hull City manager Marco Silva but decided against pursuing him and are now working their way through alternatives."

"It has left Puel in limbo but, with the players on holiday, the club do not feel under any urgent pressure."

"Transfer decisions have been largely shaped by executive director Les Reed and recruitment chief Ross Wilson in recent years anyway, with the club’s manager essentially responsible for the preparation of the first-team."

"Puel has not at this stage been formally sacked and, while now highly unlikely to return, there remains a small chance that he might yet continue if other options fall through."

"The Frenchman signed a three-year contract last summer and, while entitled to compensation if he is sacked, has been of interest to St Etienne. Puel, though, is likely to wait to see how his precarious Southampton situation unravels before committing himself to another club."

"Claudio Ranieri was seriously considered in the summer that Southampton eventually hired Ronald Koeman and he ultimately then led Leicester City to the Premier League title."

"Manuel Pellegrini was considered but ultimately overlooked last summer and they will also be well aware of the availability of Thomas Tuchel following his sacking at Borussia Dortmund. "

If Wilson is correct it is hard to see how Puel can return to the club, who by the very fact that they have not come out and confirmed that he will be manager next season have shown they have little or no confidence in him going forward.

The reality of the situation is that Saints are playing for time, I am coming to the conclusion that the club and Puel already have an agreement in place and the Frenchman has already been informed that his services are no longer required, however it is in both parties interests to have an amicable parting of the ways and that will happen when Saints have lined up their replacement.

The problem with that is, the longer the situation goes on the more uptight the fans get, especially with the situation that developed this week in the media regarding Liverpool and Virgil Van Dijk, the club whilst not ready to sack Puel, know they have to be seen as doing something so appear to have briefed their trusted media contacts.

The message is that they are well aware of the situation, they are as normal taking their time to get the right man and are looking at all potential candidates, also pointing out with the players on holiday till the start of July, they do have a little bit of time.

This also illustrates why the multiple stories about Van Dijk on the verge of a move to Liverpool have little actual substance ( At present, although it is clear Liverpool will go to great lengths to try to get him) Saints will not sanction any transfers out till they have the new man in place and his thoughts on the squad.

Overall it looks like there could be movement in the situation very quickly, but it is not quite there yet.

Photo: Action Images

redandwhitesupporter added 11:01 - Jun 7 Spot on Nick the three mentioned Journalists are very reliable and credible sources for anything Southampton Football Club related and if it comes from them it carries some substance.
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Sanguin added 11:25 - Jun 7 This is a good article. Today’s stories make Puel’s position even more untenable. I notice that the club must have briefed the Daily Echo that the situation hasn’t substantially changed since they have an article rowing back on an imminent sacking. I don’t think we’ll see an announcement today, but hopefully this will all be resolved sooner rather than later so we can start looking forward to next season.

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JDawg added 11:45 - Jun 7 I think you're right, I'd even say the decision was mutually agreed some months ago - Puel knows his services are no longer required and is enjoying his gardening leave. I also think the club is playing for time, but everything hinges on Lander Holdings. Once they get the nod the club will roll out the new first choice manager at the same time along with announcements that no one is leaving the club this summer and pay rises for VVD and RB. If Lander don't get the nod, it'll be a whole different story with Puel, VVD and RB's departures all announced but no new manager.

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saintpp added 12:06 - Jun 7 My first thought was oh no not another rehashed Puel leaving UI article but actually its a good piece. You have gone over most of the theories and its hard to believe Puel hasnt been told one way or the other thats hardly fair on the guy. The worrying thing is if Saints dont actually have anyone lined up to replace him and thats why they havent sacked him How could Puel return knowing hes only there because the club couldnt find anybody else?Especailly considering hes hardly a fans favourite which is one of the reasons his job is on the line in the first place. And if they dont have anyone lined up,it begs the question why not its hardly coming as suprise that he may not be with us much longer.

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SonicBoom added 12:15 - Jun 7 Well this Lander thing has taken forever and is still dragging on although the club have stated they will carry on business as usual regardless. The silence on Puel is deafening. The much publicised end of season review has happened and not a word from the club. The problem with Saints is that they say they will say something, then say nothing which merely encourages wild speculation. It says the players are on leave so the club has time - well surely this is the perfect time to sort it out so its done for when they return. Maximum time with the new guy.

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bstokesaint added 13:14 - Jun 7 Just don't let it roll into pre season please Saints. We don't want to still be looking for players and desperately trying to hold on to others come the end of July. If this is definitely happening (as it looks likely) let's get in a well respected manager, that the players will respond to and who will be given a generous transfer pot to strengthen and go for Europe again next season. Whilst I liked the idea of discovering a new, up and coming manager it would appear that that has backfired. This still doesn't excuse the poor performances of some players who let Puel down.

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BoondockSaint added 13:53 - Jun 7 Yep, this is definitely from the club as it has all the earmarks of a press release handed out to their favourite mouthpieces in the press: "...with the players on holiday, the club do not feel under any urgent pressure." ?? This is a reason for the usual dithering? So all the good candidates can sign elsewhere? "..completed their search for a possible successor."?? Shouldn't they (as all professional clubs) have a list of 3 or more replacements for managers (and players) that is updated regularly in case the need arises, so they can move fast. How the hell do you "overlook" Pellegrini?? More like he as others, looked at our transfer policy and passed on the poisoned chalice. They need to change the whole mindset of the club and show the supporters they want to be a professional, competitive football club.

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BathSaint added 14:12 - Jun 7 "Saints will not sanction any transfers out till they have the new man in place and his thoughts on the squad." While this would be sensible and professional, that is not how the club has worked in recent years. We sold mane before hiring Puel and we sold Lambert before hiring Koeman (though I admit that transfer was a special case with Liverpool applying the time pressure). Most importantly I hope the club hurries up and sorts out this managerial situation asap though. The past 3 seasons we have been embarrassingly slow in the summer window - selling our players very early on and bringing in replacements far far too late, meaning we always start with an unsettled (and often incomplete) squad, having played all of preseason with large numbers of players who then don't feature regularly during the season.

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Letiss7 added 15:54 - Jun 7 Pueal was signed for three years from the 30th June 2016. Could the compensation be affected and be less by completing a year in his job.
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Lazz added 17:15 - Jun 7 ​Southampton owner Katharina Liebherr could be forced to sell the club after becoming embroiled in an investigation by the German tax authorities, ​the Times have reported. The public prosecutor's office is reportedly investigating the tax liability of her late father, Markus Liebherr, who left the club to Katharina after his death in 2010. Authorities are investigating whether they are entitled to levy taxes against the beneficiaries of Markus Liebherr’s estate after discovering that he had spent more time in Germany than expected. I hope it's all a load of rubbish.

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bstokesaint added 22:52 - Jun 7 Sounds like rubbish Lazz.
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SaintBrock added 12:21 - Jun 8 The whole saga is weird and doesn't become our club. Where is our dignity. We look like a bunch of dithering idiots to the outside world and what of the man's feelings reading all this stuff and treating him like a pawn in a game apparently taking it to the extent that he might still be asked to come back here yet! I hope he has the guts to say "Stuff your job, your club, Les Reed and all the conniving cowardly bunch of you!" Of course i do not think he fits with us and believe it is best for all parties if he leaves but he is a decent man and deserves far more from us than this senseless, endless humiliation. He took a job, did his best, it didn't work out. That's how it can be sometimes, nobody is to blame so personal animosity and disrespectfulness should have no part in it.

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susanmitchell added 08:59 - Oct 25 This perhaps shows just how far removed Daniel Levy is from the real world in that he sees, happy wheels https://happywheels2.io 2 that two years of barely playing a Premier League game has increased the players value by nearly five times what they paid for him.
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