Coach who refused to play Super Eagles star fired after poor run of form

Southampton have sacked manager Will Still following a disappointing start to the Championship season, and the decision comes after weeks of controversy surrounding his refusal to give Super Eagles midfielder Joe Aribo proper game time.

The Saints currently sit dangerously close to the relegation zone, and with results collapsing, the club has finally acted.

Will Still’s spell at St Mary’s came crashing down after a 2-0 defeat to Preston North End, a result that intensified pressure already mounting on the Belgian coach.

Despite promoting Nigerian teenager Nicholas Oyekunle for a late debut in the loss, Still’s handling of senior Nigerian stars drew more scrutiny than praise.

Joe Aribo, who was a key figure last season, played only four minutes in the entire campaign, and those came in Still’s final match. Samuel Edozie also struggled for minutes despite returning from a strong loan spell in Belgium, where he registered four goals and six assists.

Still defended his choices, blaming missed pre-season time and strong competition in the squad, but fans and pundits saw it differently, especially with the team languishing in 21st place on just 12 points.

As Southampton’s form dipped with only one win in five, frustration grew, and questions about the decision to bench experienced players became louder, ultimately aligning with the club’s decision to move on.

With Still gone, Aribo, Edozie and Oyekunle will now train under U21 boss Tonda Eckert until a permanent manager is appointed, giving them a clean slate and renewed hope for minutes.

For Aribo in particular, the managerial change could be the boost his season desperately needed, especially after a summer move failed to materialise and left him out of the club’s pre-season plans.

Still previously said it was “honest competition” that kept Aribo and Edozie out, but the backlash suggests many believe quality was wasted at a time when Southampton could least afford it.

Now sitting just three points above the relegation zone and already adrift of the play-off challengers, Southampton face a decisive stretch, and the experience of their Nigerian trio could be key to rescuing their season.