Daily Echo:

SAINTS remain in no rush to replace manager Claude Puel – but will have the managerial situation resolved before the start of pre-season.

The Daily Echo understands the club's hierarchy are completely calm in regards to the Frenchman's situation and continue to consider carefully the potential appointment of a new boss.

With the players now away on holiday or on international duty until July, the St Mary's bosses are not feeling under pressure to simply sack Puel.

The 55-year-old led Saints to an eighth place finish in the Premier League and to the League Cup final, but is unlikely to have a future at the club, with fans restless over the team's style of play and lack of goals.

Puel, who has served 12 months of a three year contract at St Mary's, contributed to an end of season debrief before heading off on his summer break last week with his job's status far from certain.

The decision making process is still ongoing with Saints looking at who could come in to replace Puel.

A shortlist of potential successors has been drawn up and it is said that the former Borussia Dortmund chief Thomas Tuchel has featured on that, along with Roger Schmidt, who left Bayer Leverkusen in March - although he has now joined Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan.

Although new managers are being studied and considered, so far Puel has not been dismissed by the club and there is, despite all of this, a slim chance he could stay in charge next term.

Puel himself has been on the shortlist for the vacant St Etienne job in his homeland, but Saints aren't factoring this into their decision making process.

Saints will head to Austria and France this summer on their pre-season tour and will have a manager in position before then.