Gary O’Neil in Race with Russell Martin for Southampton Manager Role

Former Wolves and Bournemouth boss Gary O’Neil is ready to battle it out with Russell Martin to become the new Southampton manager, SportsBoom can reveal.

SportsBoom’s sources correctly reported last week that Will Still would be relieved of his duties, a prediction that was confirmed on Sunday following Saints’ 2-0 defeat to Preston.

It marked a dismal run of just one win in their last ten Championship matches, leaving the club languishing near the bottom of the division.

And our sources understand that O’Neil, who has not managed since being dismissed by Wolves in December 2024, is now desperate to get back into management.

The 42-year-old has been doing TV and punditry work since leaving Molineux, but the former midfielder is hungry to get back in the dugout and be involved with the cut and thrust of the action.

Southampton enjoyed welcome success with their first win in over a month, beating QPR 2-1 away last Wednesday night, ending a run of five games without a win and just two points from a possible 15 with three defeats in a row under Still.

Interim boss Tonda Eckert, the club’s third under-21 coach, is currently in charge of the managerial reigns.

AMBITION

But Saints are looking to make an appointment as soon as possible, with the ambition this year still to win promotion back to the Premier League.

The club are only eight points off the top six with plenty of games to haul themselves up the standings.

And O’Neil, who has plenty of Premier League experience during his time with both the Cherries and Wolves, is a manager Saints admire.

O’Neil enjoyed a distinguished playing career, playing for clubs including Portsmouth, Middlesborough, West Ham and Norwich City in the Premier League.

After nearly 11 months in the wilderness he is now ready to help Saints out of the mire they find themselves in having been frustrated in the job market recently.

Ex-Rangers and former Southampton Martin is also understood to be considered for the vacancy, although his awful record in Scotland has blotted his copy book somewhat.