Southampton manager news: What we know about next boss hunt

The hunt for a new boss will enter its third day with interim head coach Simon Rusk taking tonight's Carabao Cup quarter-final against Liverpool.

Saints would like to make an appointment ahead of Sunday's Premier League trip to Fulham but will not rush their decision and negotiations. 

As we previously reported, owners Sport Republic would prefer an appointment fit for the long term instead of a short-term punt on survival.

The search is likely to be conducted by co-owners Rasmus Ankersen and Henrik Kraft, with the help of director of football operations Mark Bitcon.

Mark Bitcon and Rasmus Ankersen at St Mary's

They, along with Saints CEO Phil Parsons, will have one eye on the club's finances ahead of the likely loss of Premier League broadcast revenue next season.

While further spending on what they believe to be the right boss can not be ruled out, there is a balance to be had and a knock-on effect to every decision.

Sheffield Wednesday's Danny Rohl began as the initial bookies' and media favourite, but he is only one of three strongly linked potential managers.

Some rumours have suggested Saints have sought to make contact with the German but media reports corroborate that there has been no formal offer.

Former Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand and West Brom's Carlos Corberan are the other two, with all three named on the Daily Echo's manager shortlist.

A Sky Sports report on Monday claimed that two foreign free agents were being considered by Saints - one could have been Hjulmand, 52.

Kasper Hjulmand is still in the running to be the new Saints boss (Image: PA)

Sacked Cardiff City boss Erol Bulut is not in the running despite reports from Turkey, with the same believed for Roma legend Daniele De Rossi.

Both Rohl, 35, and Corberan, 41, are young coaches who would bring Championship experience but require a compensation agreement to be released from their current clubs.

The compensation required for Rohl was previously slated as around £5million, recently putting Leicester City off, while Corberan's is said to be £2m.

This has been reported by several publications as a potential stumbling block, while Hjulmand departed his post with the national team in July.

Saints ultimately want any new manager to be open to continuing their work at the club next campaign, whatever division the team ends up in.

Rohl, Hjulmand and Corberan remain the favourites in the bookies and are the three managers consistently talked about in various media reports.

On that basis, it would seem likely that one of the trio will become the new Saints boss - but with no decision made, another front-runner could emerge.