The King is dead, long live the King.

So who now for Saints following the sacking of Mauricio Pellegrino?

Here are a few early runners and riders. Give us your suggestions in the comments section

Marco Silva

Though he couldn’t save Hull from the drop, the bounce effect he had turned them from being doomed for Premier League relegation to getting within touching distance of saving themselves.

A poor spell at Watford which saw him sacked in January has left him in an intriguing position.

His next job needs to work for him, he could not realistically take another team down, and he still has a good enough reputation to be picky, with Benfica supposedly ready to make a move for him in the summer.

If Saints could convince him, then the fact he is out of work makes it, in theory, an easy appointment.

Mark Hughes

If Saints take the view that there is no way they can afford to take a punt on a manager without considerable Premier League experience, and preferably they get somebody out of work, then Hughes is a strong contender.

The former Saints striker has managed the likes of Blackburn, Man City and, most recently Stoke, where he was eventually sacked.

His experience at a difficult time would be the selling point, but the question would be whether he was a man for the long-term.

Slavisa Jokanovic

The Fulham manager is making quite a reputation for himself.

Jokanovic has been linked with Saints in the past, and fiery Serbian has a burgeoning reputation.

Obviously there would be considerable difficulties in getting him given that he already has a club, and one who are making a concerted push for promotion.

Graham Potter

The much travelled midfielder, who played eight times for Saints in the mid-1990s, would represent a colossal gamble, but also fits the mould of the kind of manager the club may aspire to for a long-term appointment.

His remarkable success at Swedish club Osterlunds has thrust him into the thoughts of many a Premier League chairman.

Potter led the club on an incredible rise from the fourth tier of Swedish football all the way to the top flight, as well as winning the Swedish Cup and qualifying for European football.