New Manager Debate

[MarkSFC]

On 30/11/2025 at 10:25, Badger said:

And if that real choice was Gary O’Neil ? 

Probabaly a bad choice

[DT]

Did I really read Keegan being suggested as a realistic choice up there for manager? Or did the heavy sarcasm pass over my head?

Farke has two games left at Leeds apparently. I wonder if we give Tonda the next two...

[notnowcato]

29 minutes ago, DT said:

Did I really read Keegan being suggested as a realistic choice up there for manager? Or did the heavy sarcasm pass over my head?

Farke has two games left at Leeds apparently. I wonder if we give Tonda the next two...

Not the Keegan you’re probably thinking of. The data bods have crunched the numbers, reviewed real world permutations, added a healthy pinch of “if it ain’t broke…”, looked at cross correlations of elite world sport and leadership, hence Mr Bradley was at Staplewood all weekend.
 

Don’t shoot the messenger. 

[HnycS]

10 hours ago, Harry_SFC said:

It's been very good against teams that leave us space. He'll need to try and work out a way to combat teams who don't do that. 

Agreed. As the previous incumbent couldn't figure out how to play well against teams that leave space, he should get credit for that. It clearly isn't a given, must have been partly due to his coaching and tactics?

[cambsaint]

It's frequently quoted that promotion to the Prem is worth £100 m. So I don't think anybody will be buying Lampard for a figure much less than that.

[Willo of Whiteley]

2 hours ago, DT said:

Did I really read Keegan being suggested as a realistic choice up there for manager? Or did the heavy sarcasm pass over my head?

Farke has two games left at Leeds apparently. I wonder if we give Tonda the next two...

I mean you suggested high-flying, European tournament team manager Liam Rosenior a month ago, so maybe take a chill pill. 😂

Also Daniel Farke I think would be great. But he isn’t getting sacked on a Sunday and taking over at Saints on the Monday.

[Saint NL]

I half expected an announcement today to make Eckhart official. But it hasn't happened, whatever does it mean?

[Willo of Whiteley]

Tonda Eckhart is Sport Republic’s guy. It’s all about timing to announce it.

I wasn’t against him after four wins in a row. I became alarmed when he said Aribo had played really well in his appearances - that is scary in itself.

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

47 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

I mean you suggested high-flying, European tournament team manager Liam Rosenior a month ago, so maybe take a chill pill. 😂

Also Daniel Farke I think would be great. But he isn’t getting sacked on a Sunday and taking over at Saints on the Monday.

And 3 points on a Tuesday?!

[The Kraken]

1 hour ago, cambsaint said:

It's frequently quoted that promotion to the Prem is worth £100 m. So I don't think anybody will be buying Lampard for a figure much less than that.

If his agent has got anything about him then Lampard will have a reasonable buy-out price. £100M is laughable. 

[Dr Who?]

I have never known such an indecisive club… seriously do not have a clue! 

[SW11_Saint]

10 hours ago, the boy from saints said:

Steve Cooper?

Gainfully employed. 

[Appy]

1 hour ago, Dr Who? said:

I have never known such an indecisive club… seriously do not have a clue! 

They used to be indecisive, now they’re not so sure 

[Saint86]

57 minutes ago, Appy said:

They used to be indecisive, now they’re not so sure 

Its looks undeniable that the board sacked Still because the fans turned on them - if it was in any way planned they'd have had a manager lined up.

Said it before, but i reckon they'd decided to keep Still and instructed Spors to do as much, so we ended up passing up on Rohl, then Rohl got appointed and the fans turned toxic, the board panicked, told Spors to get rid, and now Spors is sat there with a shit list of managers on offer (and initially a club that was just above the relegation zone and far less attractive). In fact, maybe we should just be grateful Spors had got Tonda in as part of "succession planning", because otherwise we'd likely be sat here with GON, an even more toxic fan-board relationship, and probably less points.

Edited 19 hours ago by Saint86

[Tamesaint]

6 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Tonda Eckhart is Sport Republic’s guy. It’s all about timing to announce it.

I wasn’t against him after four wins in a row. I became alarmed when he said Aribo had played really well in his appearances - that is scary in itself.

I suspect that he knows that Aribo was shite and I expect him to have told Aribo that afterwards. He just wasn't going to throw him under the bus after a question from the local journalist. 

Lets see the line up on Saturday. If Aribo is in the starting line up it will be time to get worried!! 

[Wade Garrett]

5 hours ago, Tamesaint said:

I suspect that he knows that Aribo was shite and I expect him to have told Aribo that afterwards. He just wasn't going to throw him under the bus after a question from the local journalist. 

Lets see the line up on Saturday. If Aribo is in the starting line up it will be time to get worried!! 

There’s not throwing him under the bus and there’s praising him for his performance when we could all see it for what it was.

[Saint NL]

11 hours ago, JohnnyShearer2.0 said:

12 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

l.

Also Daniel Farke I think would be great. But he isn’t getting sacked on a Sunday and taking over at Saints on the Monday.

And 3 points on a Tuesday?!

And we were making love by Wednesday, probably just chill on Sunday though.

[pimpin4rizeal]

9 hours ago, Saint86 said:

Its looks undeniable that the board sacked Still because the fans turned on them - if it was in any way planned they'd have had a manager lined up.

Said it before, but i reckon they'd decided to keep Still and instructed Spors to do as much, so we ended up passing up on Rohl, then Rohl got appointed and the fans turned toxic, the board panicked, told Spors to get rid, and now Spors is sat there with a shit list of managers on offer (and initially a club that was just above the relegation zone and far less attractive). In fact, maybe we should just be grateful Spors had got Tonda in as part of "succession planning", because otherwise we'd likely be sat here with GON, an even more toxic fan-board relationship, and probably less points.

Regarding succession planning really hope we are not now gonna have a string of interim managers with Lallana being next to the throne.

it’s extremely Mickey Mouse view that we should now be a development club for managers to learn their trade at and there’s no financial gain in it either 

Edited 10 hours ago by pimpin4rizeal

[Willo of Whiteley]

Sport Republic have screwed up that many times that they’re now damned if they do and damned if they don’t.

Fans are done with them.

It was only going to be a matter of time before TE lost his first game, it didn’t matter if it was his fifth game or his fifteenth game, but as soon as he loses its eyes back on SR.

[DT]

14 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

I mean you suggested high-flying, European tournament team manager Liam Rosenior a month ago, so maybe take a chill pill. 😂

Also Daniel Farke I think would be great. But he isn’t getting sacked on a Sunday and taking over at Saints on the Monday.

I said I'd like him, in the best of all possible worlds, and still do. Brilliant communicator, and anyway, we all know that money can talk to lure people away even from Euro teams, especially if they can come 'home'. But of course that is nuance. I didn't 'suggest' him, and neither do I 'want' Farke - merely speculating, as is completely allowed on here as you well know. Or I could say we will get a new manager, or won't get a new manager, if that's more your bag (which clearly it is). Whatever happened to Fareham Saint? Any ideas? He did those kinds of posts too

[S-Clarke]

26 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Sport Republic have screwed up that many times that they’re now damned if they do and damned if they don’t.

Fans are done with them.

It was only going to be a matter of time before TE lost his first game, it didn’t matter if it was his fifth game or his fifteenth game, but as soon as he loses its eyes back on SR.

The bounce back is what I'm intrigued by.

We have struggled to bounce back in the league from a bad result in the last couple of years, I'm intrigued to see if we can turn in a good performance or do we just default to the norm, of one bad result shaking the team and sticking us in a run of no wins again?

If we can nail that on Saturday and jump straight back into a win and a good performance, consider me whelmed.

[Thripp87]

22 hours ago, the boy from saints said:

Steve Cooper?

He’s got a job in Denmark now

[Thripp87]

On 30/11/2025 at 20:36, The Kraken said:

I don’t think you’ve been looking hard enough. There’s been loads. There’s a bloody poll on this very thread that has a list of some ffs.

And even if they didn’t get name checked specifically on here, it’s absolutely ludicrous to suggest there is not a single experienced football manager in the world who would take the job if offered. Absolutely bonkers to use that as a rationale to give Eckert the job. Nuts.

All I’ve been told is Rogers - he won’t come

Carrick - literally acheived nothing as a manager

Cooper - just got a job in Denmark.

Carsley - I’ll give us that, good potential and probably realistic. But no less of a risk than Tonda.

Then we’ve got the two ex Saints numpties. Christ that would be embarrassing.

Also the poll you seem to quote has Other in second place which kind of makes my point for me. Remind me, who has Other done a good job for? 

 

Edited 7 hours ago by Thripp87

[Thripp87]

On 30/11/2025 at 22:54, Mboto Gorge said:

Yet the guy has the nerve to call other fans clowns for suggesting that Eckert possibly shouldn’t be given the job. Clearly isn’t very bright and doesn’t have the brainpower to think beyond whats being played out in front of his eyes, so can’t look beyond the current incumbent. 

I saw you waving to Tonda against Leicester. 

[Badger]

On 01/12/2025 at 10:43, saintant said:

Someone on TUI claiming Tonda has been given the job but they are waiting on a work permit which was declined and we have appealed. Sounds feasible. 

Hadn’t previously considered the situation re work permit. But raises a thought that anybdelay in this might be a WP for another option rather than TE.

(Probably not, but just a thought)

Edited 6 hours ago by Badger

[Matthew Le God]

On 01/12/2025 at 10:43, saintant said:

Someone on TUI claiming Tonda has been given the job but they are waiting on a work permit which was declined and we have appealed. Sounds feasible. 

 

5 minutes ago, Badger said:

Hadn’t previously considered the situation re work permit. But raises a thought that anybdelay in this might be a WP for another option rather than TE.

(Probably not, but just a thought)

He already has a work permit to work for Saints. One that even lets him be the interim manager! Why would he need a new permit for a promotion within the same company? The system would be flooded with paperwork if every internal promotion required a new work permit.

Edited 6 hours ago by Matthew Le God

[Badger]

On 30/11/2025 at 14:55, sockeye said:

In retrospect I think it's a shame that timings didn't line up for us to get Rohl.

Would have been my choice in the summer, it seemed the most likely outcome. But perhaps that in itself drove Spors to find someone else, not to do the obvious thing and make an appointment of his choice. 

Should have gone for him in September though.

Looking at a Rangers forum and they’re not completely sold on Rohl, although widely regarded as an upgrade on Martin. It did read a bit like this place with complaints re manager, recruitment and players at his disposal. Some already saying he’ll be on his way at the end of the season with agreement already in place for Gerrard to return. 

[Dusic]

Verl are absolutely flying under Tobi Strobl, another big win at the weekend 4-1 - the 4th time in 6 games they have scored 4 or more!

Would be amazing to have a forum lurker become gaffer! @TobiasTheTactician

[Ted Bates Statue]

33 minutes ago, Badger said:

Looking at a Rangers forum and they’re not completely sold on Rohl, although widely regarded as an upgrade on Martin. It did read a bit like this place with complaints re manager, recruitment and players at his disposal. Some already saying he’ll be on his way at the end of the season with agreement already in place for Gerrard to return. 

Setting aside their continued poor form in Europe, there are parallels with us in that since the change in manager, they've won 4 out of 4, followed by a 0-0 draw. I would personally have felt more confident in Rohl but there were umpteen chances this year for it to happen, so I now feel compelled to remind myself that he isn't the only manager on the planet who could ever possibly be compatible with us.

Good luck to them if they've set their heart on Gerrard...!

[St Louis]

15 hours ago, Saint86 said:

Its looks undeniable that the board sacked Still because the fans turned on them - if it was in any way planned they'd have had a manager lined up.

Or... perhaps they could also see the performances on the pitch (and had feedback from the squad) and felt that getting rid of Still was necessary, as we were only heading in one direction. And felt that whoever came in, even if Tonda for a few weeks/months until we found the right replacement, would result in an improvement on the pitch. And that's proved the right decision so far.
There's so much that goes on behind the scenes that we aren't privy to, perhaps they did/do have someone (or people) in mind, but we need to wait for them. And the spanner in the works has been Tonda getting 12 points from 15, and putting himself into consideration.
I feel a lot more relaxed about the situation than many on here it seems. If we were losing every week, then I would be worried and want them to make a quick appointment. But while it's all going OK, I dont mind them taking their time and trying to make the right decision (and a less rash one... like they usually seem to). 

Edited 4 hours ago by St Louis

[Starksj1995]

1 hour ago, Matthew Le God said:

 

He already has a work permit to work for Saints. One that even lets him be the interim manager! Why would he need a new permit for a promotion within the same company? The system would be flooded with paperwork if every internal promotion required a new work permit.

Needs a different wp for 1st team manager 

[Willo of Whiteley]

I think when you look at who other clubs have hired there isn’t a huge amount of realistic and decent managers out there. It’s a very small pool, and not many are much of an improvement on Will Still.

But Tonda has got some kind of tune out of this lot, so there’s no harm in sticking with him for now.

SR can’t win, unless we get promoted.

[Pamplemousse]

2 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

 

He already has a work permit to work for Saints. One that even lets him be the interim manager! Why would he need a new permit for a promotion within the same company? The system would be flooded with paperwork if every internal promotion required a new work permit.

This is what the caseworker guidance states: 

The applicant does not need to make a change of employment application if: 

their pay increases or decreases but the sponsor would need to report this change via the sponsor management system (SMS) 

they change role but continue to work for the same employer in the same occupation code 

A sports coach falls under the same occupation code, whether that's first team or U21, so the club would only need to report the change in salary and not make a new application.

Unless a first team manager is in a different occupation code to an U21 coach but my understanding is it would fall under the same code. So no change of employment application required. And as you mentioned, he wouldn't be allowed to take interim charge if that were the case.

 

 

 

EDIT: Just asked AI and this is what it says

Relevant occupation code = SOC 2020: 3442 – Sports coaches, instructors and officials

Under the Skilled Worker/International Sportsperson framework, all football coaches, regardless of level, are grouped into the same SOC code:

U21 / academy coach

First-team coach

Assistant manager

Manager / head coach

Specialist coaches (goalkeeping, set-piece, fitness)

Elite/professional-level coaches

There is no separate code for “first-team manager” or “elite-level manager.” 

An academy → first-team move stays in code 3442, so changing role alone doesn’t trigger a mandatory change-of-employment visa application, provided that:

1. The employer is the same,

2. The occupation code is unchanged, and

3. The sponsor reports the change on the SMS.

---

⚠️ However — being in the same occupation code doesn’t automatically make it safe

Immigration compliance still looks at:

1. Whether the job duties match the role described on the CoS

If the CoS explicitly sponsored the person as “U21 manager/coach (academy role)” and did not describe first-team duties, then moving them into a significantly different role could technically breach the “genuineness” and “job-matching” requirement — even though the occupation code is the same.

2. Whether the governing body endorsement (GBE) covers the new role

FA endorsements for ISP visas are based on the level of the role.
A first-team manager is a materially different level, and the FA may require a new endorsement for the new job.

3. Whether the salary now differs materially from what was originally sponsored

A big jump in pay must be reported, and if the new pay is radically different, the Home Office may question whether the role is still the same job.

Edited 3 hours ago by Pamplemousse

[obelisk]

SR have probably already decided that Eckert is their man. The coaching staff deckchairs have been move into place and I really can't imagine them changing things around again now.

Just a case of desperate hope now that the new boss can keep the fans off SR's back. Yes, there have been a couple of good performances against moderate opposition and 10 men who just gave up. Last Saturday was a reversion to the QPR backs-to-the-wall performance - except without any points this time. 

I'm yet to be convinced that this is the bloke to take Saints beyond mid table and into a promotion challenge. If it doesn't work out this year then it has to be next time, otherwise I don't expect to see Saints at the top level again in my lifetime. SR have balls up big time.

[Wade Garrett]

How many of the new coaching staff, including Eckert, have played a decent level of professional football?

I’m not convinced this is good.

[pimpin4rizeal]

5 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

The bounce back is what I'm intrigued by.

We have struggled to bounce back in the league from a bad result in the last couple of years, I'm intrigued to see if we can turn in a good performance or do we just default to the norm, of one bad result shaking the team and sticking us in a run of no wins again?

If we can nail that on Saturday and jump straight back into a win and a good performance, consider me whelmed.

This is the thing it’s all such a fickle game by game judgement of him ..if he fails to win  the next couple of games no one will want him again .. seems we are now going from development club for players to managers too now problem is it’s all risk with no financial upside anyway 

[manji]

I shall try and be pragmatic. Tonda is doing a great job so what if he said Aribo played well he’s hardly going to piss off a player we might need. Majority of players signed by Solak/Spors are coming good so it looks like it’s going to be a decent season and do we want to go up this season ? 
it would be the same as last we aren’t ready. This season Tonda and newbies use this season to toughen up . I hated that last minute goal but big picture maybe a defeat might have been a good thing. 
No way we are getting relegated. This season gives Spors time to asses team indentify new signings Next season rinse the league and go up with a prepared side. 
No idea about Tonda but he’s fine at the moment maybe we go for Rosenior at the end of the season. 
and Sports Republic they pumped a lot of money into club and I reckon they will want to stay around to finalised ground improvements. Yes they’ve made some bad decisions but it looks like Spors phase one is coming good. 
I can’t think of any fans that are happy with thier owners and the divs that say SR should go and be replaced by who ? New owners more instability whereas as we have a sort of system in place and Dragon happy to get someone else in to work with SR. 

Championship weird no standout club let’s see what happens and of course I have to moan about some of the posters on here. The mentality of making the effort to have a dig at Tonda because he didn’t slag off Aribo in public to a hostile question FFS. 

Decent season maintain our superb away following and then straight up next season. What’s wrong with that ? 

[saintant]

3 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

 

He already has a work permit to work for Saints. One that even lets him be the interim manager! Why would he need a new permit for a promotion within the same company? The system would be flooded with paperwork if every internal promotion required a new work permit.

It is!

[vectraman]

My concern is we seem to be welded to 5 at the back. This leaves the team short in midfield and Saturday was an example where going to 4 defenders and bolstering midfield would have been sensible (to my I’m not a pro football manager mind). 
 

Fellows is a winger not a wingback, but he’s pressed into that square hole, I would just like a right back at right back (Roeslev), drop a CB (whoever) and Wellington at LB who is a better defender than Manning.  
 

Any team we are about to play will have seen how Millwall handled us, and will adopt a similar plan I suspect. Get in our faces and press us at the back, or just sit back, park the bus and hit us on the break. We reverted back to tippy tappy to me to you at the back Russ ball on Saturday, not sure if that was planned, just happened again, or was because we didn’t know what else to do!

I’m intrigued to see how Tonda looks at the opposition on Saturday and what he does different. Brum are decent and will cause problems for us. Saturday will be a big test for him, as teams will now know not to let us have space to play into.
A manager who will adapt formation and personnel (like Quarsie in for Stephens v Leicester) to counter the opposition and not stick rigidly to formations will get a lot more slack from me than a rigid, this is how we play (Russel Martin no flexibility) type. 

[saintant]

2 hours ago, Starksj1995 said:

Needs a different wp for 1st team manager 

Nah, MLG knows best 🙂

[CamSaint]

4 minutes ago, vectraman said:

My concern is we seem to be welded to 5 at the back. This leaves the team short in midfield and Saturday was an example where going to 4 defenders and bolstering midfield would have been sensible

Unfortunately for the last few weeks both Mads & Jelert have been injured so we don't have a fit traditional RB unless there is one in the U-21s.

[Matthew Le God]

2 hours ago, Starksj1995 said:

Needs a different wp for 1st team manager 

He is already managing the 1st team.

[Matthew Le God]

22 minutes ago, saintant said:

Nah, MLG knows best 🙂

He is already managing the 1st team. 

[VectisSaint]

I see Morgan S was at Staplewood (today?), coming back as a coach? Manager candidate (would have him back as a player but I guess he is even more past it than OR now). 

🤔

[Turkish]

31 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

He is already managing the 1st team.

 

Summary:

 

 

• If the interim manager is already a club employee with the legal right to work in the UK, they may not need a new work permit or GBE application to assume the full manager role temporarily or permanently, as long as their visa covers that kind of work.
• If the interim manager is coming from abroad, and their role as manager requires a different type of work status or more specialized qualifications (e.g., the GBE points system), then they would still need to meet the requirements and potentially apply for a new GBE.

 

 

So, in short: If they’re already employed by the club and have the legal right to work in the UK, they may not need a new work permit when moving into the manager role. But if they’re from outside the UK and don’t meet GBE requirements, the club may need to apply for a new permit to reflect their change in duties.
 

 

[Midfield_General]

1 hour ago, manji said:

do we want to go up this season ? 
it would be the same as last we aren’t ready. This season Tonda and newbies use this season to toughen up . I hated that last minute goal but big picture maybe a defeat might have been a good thing. 
This season gives Spors time to asses team indentify new signings. Next season rinse the league and go up with a prepared side. 

Decent season maintain our superb away following and then straight up next season. What’s wrong with that ? 

Oh sweet Jesus, not this again. Surely you must see the tiny flaws in that otherwise brilliant strategy? 

1 hour ago, manji said:

It looks like Spors phase one is coming good. 

Really? His first managerial appointment an unmitigated disaster and sacked after 14 games? £7m wasted on an Isthmian quality centre forward? 

I'm not sure an absolute shitshow for 14 games followed by two scraped wins, two good performances and one sound beating, while sitting in 14th not far off half way through the season qualify as 'coming good' and everyone should be lining up to suck Spors off just yet. 

1 hour ago, manji said:

the divs

No comment

Edited 24 minutes ago by Midfield_General

[S-Clarke]

1 hour ago, manji said:

I shall try and be pragmatic. Tonda is doing a great job so what if he said Aribo played well he’s hardly going to piss off a player we might need. Majority of players signed by Solak/Spors are coming good so it looks like it’s going to be a decent season and do we want to go up this season ? 
it would be the same as last we aren’t ready. This season Tonda and newbies use this season to toughen up . I hated that last minute goal but big picture maybe a defeat might have been a good thing. 
No way we are getting relegated. This season gives Spors time to asses team indentify new signings Next season rinse the league and go up with a prepared side. 
No idea about Tonda but he’s fine at the moment maybe we go for Rosenior at the end of the season. 
and Sports Republic they pumped a lot of money into club and I reckon they will want to stay around to finalised ground improvements. Yes they’ve made some bad decisions but it looks like Spors phase one is coming good. 
I can’t think of any fans that are happy with thier owners and the divs that say SR should go and be replaced by who ? New owners more instability whereas as we have a sort of system in place and Dragon happy to get someone else in to work with SR. 

Championship weird no standout club let’s see what happens and of course I have to moan about some of the posters on here. The mentality of making the effort to have a dig at Tonda because he didn’t slag off Aribo in public to a hostile question FFS. 

Decent season maintain our superb away following and then straight up next season. What’s wrong with that ? 

I do like your posts at times, and you are entitled to your view point - but coming out and calling people divs isn't a particularly smart move.

Everything you have said above is hope casting and guesswork. ''Looks like it's coming good''  ''Looks like their decision this time has been good'' ''Looks like our recruitment has been good'' - we know none of that yet, absolutely none. We've got some good players, but the overall picture still looks like this -

- We do not have a number 9 who can score goals. 

- We do not have a single good goalie at the club.

- Spors looks like he's actively throwing his name about to get himself out of the club.

And this annoying thing about ''not going up, giving it a year, then attacking the league'' is even more wishful hope casting, rathe than anything built on reality. The best time to get promoted is 'now', which is when you have the deepest squad, the most expensive squad, and the bigger pot of parachute payments to play with.

A season or two in this league with SR as our owners and we aren't ever getting out of it.

[Matthew Le God]

1 minute ago, S-Clarke said:

- We do not have a number 9 who can score goals. 

- We do not have a single good goalie at the club.

Armstrong is currently playing as the 9 and is scoring goals 

Ramsdale is a contracted Saints player

[S-Clarke]

4 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Armstrong is currently playing as the 9 and is scoring goals 

Ramsdale is a contracted Saints player

You really do try to wind people up for the sake of it. This forum was a much better place when you went awol.

Is Ramsdale able to play for us now? No. So therefore, do we have a single decent goalkeeper at the club today? No, we don't. If he's contracted to us or not is irrelevant because he cannot play for us today, tomorrow, next week or next month. So my point stands.

Edited 1 hour ago by S-Clarke

[Willo of Whiteley]

It says a lot when that’s another technical director/director of football that is touting his name about, or his agent appears to be.

SR personnel must be difficult to work for behind the scenes.