Southampton news: Opinion – Nick Mashiter on Ivan Juric exit

The die was cast in the summer, months before Ivan Juric even stepped into St Mary’s.

Many around the club felt Southampton were returning to the Premier League with a weaker squad than the one which took them up from the Championship.

Returning to the Premier League without an experienced sporting director was viewed as a massive error by the ownership, after technical director Jason Wilcox’s departure to Manchester United in May.

It left a huge question mark over their structure and the ownership’s direction – which has only grown after the decision to hire and fire Juric.

The fall-out to the summer continued with head of recruitment Darren Mowbray leaving St Mary’s in April, although sources told BBC Sport there was no issue with the players he was recommending.

Playing catch up after a poor summer left previous boss Russell Martin fighting an uphill battle, even with criticisms of his style, and he was ultimately sacked in December with the club bottom and nine points from safety.

Yet it only got worse under Juric who has won just two of his 16 games, including a 3-0 win over Swansea in the FA Cup, with Southampton suffering the Premier League’s quickest relegation.