Southampton 'set' for huge announcement in wake of Tottenham defeat

Southampton manager Ivan Juric is believed to have left the club following the 3-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. That loss condemned the south coast club to relegation from the Premier League with just 10 points on the board after 31 fixtures.

Brennan Johnson fired Spurs ahead in north London with a first half brace. The Saints looked to provide a late scare with Mateus Fernandes grabbing a goal back with 90 minutes on the lock, before an injury time Mathys Tel penalty ensured that all three points stayed in the capital.

On Monday morning, Sky Sports have led reports that Juric has now left Southampton. The outlet claimed: “We’re hearing that Ivan Juric, we understand, has left Southampton. He was only appointed in December. Southampton are relegated, it was confirmed yesterday with that defeat at Tottenham Hotspur. We understand Ivan Juric has left. The 23rd of December he was appointed, 16 games in charge, he won two of those, drawn one, so he picked up a possible seven points from his games in charge. They lost 13 of those.

“He had been given an 18 month contract, but with the relegation confirmed yesterday, we understand that he has left the club.”

Southampton manager reacts to Premier League relegation

Reacting to the Spurs defeat and confirmation of relegation, Juric has said that his players could be ‘really thankful’ towards the reaction of supporters at full time. He said: "For me, it's something completely new, a new experience.

"I said to the players that they have to be really thankful that they have fans like this. It was incredible, the way they love their team, their squad. Even the players that we have been relegated with, it's incredible for me, incredible. I think the fans really deserve much more.

"Every person who works at Southampton has to do it better and create something much stronger than we created this year. In my experience, it would have been a completely different reaction. It's a different type of culture. This, even for my mentality, is something incredible. They show love even in this moment. It's a great English culture, Southampton culture, incredible."

Tottenham Hotspur win causes Saints managerial chance again

The former Roma, Genoa and Torino boss took his first position in the UK when arriving at Southampton in December but will not oversee the upcoming Championship season with the club. It’s not the first time that defeat to Spurs has sounded the death knell of a Southampton head coach.

Ange Postecoglou’s side beat the Saints 5-0 at St Mary’s Stadium in December, which proved to be Russell Martin’s last match in charge of the side. All of the Spurs goals in that match came in a rampant first half.

A Southampton statement at the time said: "Going into the start of the season, we all knew the challenges that we would face this year as we readjusted to life in the top flight, competing in the best and most competitive league in the world. However, the reality of our situation is clear. The board have supported Russell and his staff and been open and transparent regarding our expectations.

"We have all been on the same page in recognising the urgency of needing results to improve. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Russell and his staff for all the hard work and dedication they have given the club on and off the pitch over the last 18 months. Everyone connected with Southampton FC will always have fantastic memories of last season, especially the play-off final win in May."

In other news, Ange Postecoglou has named the Tottenham player who is "really important" and "always a threat" after Southampton win.