Southampton news: What’s going wrong at Saints? BBC Radio Solent special

BBC Radio Solent reacted to Southampton’s relegation from the Premier League with a one-hour special looking at where it all went wrong.

“There is sadness really for the fans and the people at the club who have worked there for many years,” said sports editor Adam Blackmore. “Shambolic and embarrassing are two good adjectives.

“I don’t think anybody who loves the club deserves what they have witnessed in the last three years really – since Sport Republic took over, if I’m honest.

“With regards to Ivan Juric’s exit, it’s slightly embarrassing to have gone through another two managers in less than a season. It was three a couple of years ago.

“It smacks of lurching, lack of belief in what you’re doing and bad management.

“I’m not surprised that Juric has gone. There is a part of me that feels sorry for him. I think he’s been made to look bad by three things – the squad he inherited, the situation he inherited and the Premier League which catches out a lot of managers who come over here.

“I think he’s an honourable bloke who came over here and took on a challenge that many managers wouldn’t. He’s the fall guy.

“If you analyse bringing in someone like that on a short-term contract it tells everybody this isn’t your guy, he’s just here. That doesn’t inspire the players, staff, or anyone.

“It also doesn’t give him any licence to be the strongest manager he can be. We’ve had the fall-outs with the players – I don’t blame him for that. He should be able to make the players accountable for what they need to do and push them on the training ground.”

He added: “I also think he fell into the same trap as Russell Martin did. He also failed to adapt their game quick enough to get the most out of these players and get points in the Premier League.

“For me, that’s the biggest disconnect from what the managers have done and who they are as people. I don’t understand why their first thought hasn’t been ‘what is the best way to get something out of this game?’ with the group of players they have.

“If they both managed like that, I don’t think Saints would be worrying about beating Derby’s dreadful record.”

Listen to the special Radio Solent programme on BBC Sounds