Southampton Sack Manager Will Still Amid Championship Relegation Fight

Southampton has sacked their 33-year-old head coach Will Still after just five months and 13 league games in charge, with the club struggling in the Championship and sitting 21st, just above the relegation zone. Still, who was the youngest manager in the English Football League and had previously managed French Ligue 1 side Lens, won only two league matches, with the team enduring three consecutive defeats culminating in a 2-0 home loss to Preston North End. Alongside Still, coaching staff Ruben Martinez, Clément Lemaitre, and Carl Martin have also departed, with the men's Under-21 head coach Tonda Eckert taking over on an interim basis. Group Technical Director Johannes Spors expressed gratitude for Still's efforts but acknowledged that improvement took longer than hoped and that a change was necessary to turn the season around. The club has struggled since being relegated from the Premier League, trailing league leaders by 16 points and facing a challenging fight to avoid further decline. Meanwhile, Southampton defender Nathan Wood apologized for verbally abusing fans after a recent match, showing the tension surrounding the team's poor form.