Updated March 17, 2026
Relegated again after a single Premier League season
Southampton's return to the Premier League via the 2023-24 play-offs lasted just one season, with the Saints relegated alongside Leicester City and Ipswich Town. It was the club's third Premier League relegation in total, and the manner of the drop, characterized by inconsistent performances and an inability to compete with established top-flight sides, left the fanbase frustrated. Now back in the Championship, Southampton sit seventh with 57 points from 37 games, within touching distance of the play-off places.
Managerial chaos defined by the Will Still experiment and Tonda Eckert's rise
Southampton's season has been shaped by upheaval in the dugout. Will Still was appointed as manager but was sacked after just 16 games with a 25 percent win rate, his tenure ending in November. Interim Tonda Eckert steadied the ship and impressed sufficiently to earn the permanent job in December, signing a contract through to 2027. Under Eckert, Southampton have found greater stability, and their run to the FA Cup quarter-finals against Arsenal provided a welcome distraction from the league campaign.
St Mary's awaits another promotion push from a familiar position
Southampton have become accustomed to the Championship promotion battle, having yo-yoed between the divisions in recent years. St Mary's Stadium remains a formidable venue, and the squad retains enough quality from the Premier League season to be competitive at this level. The question is whether Eckert can mould a group that has experienced the trauma of relegation into one capable of mounting a sustained challenge for an immediate return to the top flight.