SAINTS owners Sport Republic are running out of tether with some of the club's supporters and this summer is their most important yet. 

The St Mary's side are set for the Championship again in what will be their second relegation in three seasons under the investment firm.

Saints were able to respond with an immediate promotion last time out but have been left grossly underprepared for the 2024/25 Premier League.

They could yet finish the campaign with the all-time lowest points tally accrued, leaving the owners and decision-makers in a vulnerable position.

How can Sport Republic fix the problems at Saints? Here are five easily achievable steps this summer that could help restore faith in the fanbase...

Reduce price of season tickets ahead of new season

Saints did a brilliant job of unifying the fanbase ahead of and during their last Championship season, culminating in the electric play-offs.

Supporters were the 12th man at home to West Brom and again at Wembley against Leeds United to ensure they won a crucial promotion.

After one of the worst Premier League seasons ever, and potentially still the worst, division and frustration have understandably crept in again.

Sport Republic and the club's chiefs can still act to secure a quick win with a genuine gesture of apology and appreciation for the support shown. 

Our first step was initially 'Freeze the price of season tickets' but after looking at prices across the Championship, Saints would remain among the most expensive.

The club's cheapest season ticket this season was £479, compared to £359 previously, and would have been the third most expensive in the second tier.

Meanwhile, only Norwich City's most expensive ticket - priced at £914 - cost more than Southampton's most expensive ticket (£829) this season.

Prices dropped by an average of 10 per cent ahead of the 2023/24 season, in a move that was extremely well received and prompted record sales.

In 2025, generally, it feels like nothing drops by 10 per cent, but even a less drastic reduction would get supporters back onside and excited.

Hire a new manager to set the tone for the campaign

Boss Ivan Juric has tried his best but clearly Saints need a split in the summer with external confidence in the Croatian at an all-time low.

The 49 year old has managed well for a long time in the Italian top flight so there is clearly something about him but it has not worked here.

Whether this mystery break-clause exists or not, Sport Republic and technical director Johannes Spors will know they must make a change.

It is always easier to get rid of the manager than it is the several players who have failed equally, and it is always an easy way to make a statement.

Saints chiefs can say that what we have seen is not good enough by making the decision and a new head coach will be given a new length of rope.

Sheffield Wednesday's Danny Rohl was a target in the winter ahead of Juric and it is extremely likely that Saints will revisit the German in June.

Should they be unable to get him for any reason, they will have plenty of other options who fans will welcome with open arms at St Mary's.

Spors has already outlined Southampton's style of play under him, suggesting: "A very intense style of football is something that really fits here."

The next appointment should reflect the club's values - a community club that punches above their weight to give the big boys a run for their money. 

Of course, first and foremost, they have to win promotion again, and a bit of Championship experience could go a long way on that front. 

Allow Spors to revamp the club's scouting and recruitment

The number one reason Saints find themselves in the situation they are in is that the recent recruitment has simply not been good enough.

There have been some positive finds; chiefly Mateus Fernandes, a 20 year old midfielder from Sporting CP who it turns out is a very good player.

However, a lot of the other recruitment under Sport Republic has not been particularly innovative, boiling down to relying on past relationships.

Welington, Juan and Kuryu Matsuki are examples of the group's shared global scouting network in action but are relatively small wins at best.

Spors comes from a recruitment background and has vast experience building scouting teams and processes to eek maximum value out of the market.

He should be given the freedom to do that again at Saints, including personnel changes and a budget for new hires if he feels they are necessary.

Asked if changes to the department are likely, he said: "I’m evaluating and we will also make a couple of decisions in that area."

It is going to be difficult to find Premier League standard players willing to come to the Championship but it is essential for Saints to build long-term. 

Brentford are a perfect example - the likes of Bryan Mbeumo, and formerly Ivan Toney - while Southampton's recruitment is no longer anything to envy.

Hold your nerve but sell valuable players at the right time 

The news report elsewhere suggesting that Saints have slapped a £100million valuation on Tyler Dibling seems to have ruffled some feathers.

In fact, it should not be a surprise as Saints have been tactfully firm negotiators when it comes to player sales under the current leadership.

Much-maligned Rasmus Ankersen played Liverpool and Chelsea off each other to land £53million for Romeo Lavia after relegation in 2023.

They also sold Tino Livramento, who had been injured for a year, to Newcastle for nearly £40million, amongst other high profile deals that summer.

They somehow found £10million for Sekou Mara and missed out on sales of others - Paul Onuachu, for example - after not budging on their price.

It is probably only Charly Alcaraz, who was not wanted by Russell Martin and went to Flamengo for £15million, where they did not get full value.

Aaron Ramsdale, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Fernandes and Dibling are probably going to be Southampton's most high-profile sales this summer.

It would be nice to keep one or two for the Championship, but Saints must be prepared to hold and sell at the right values if they can get them.

Saints need to recoup their TV broadcasting losses and if silly money is offered, be prepared to let one go in order to fund others. 

Keep together a core of tested Championship players

Spors has been clear that the aim is immediate promotion from the Championship back to the Premier League, insisting: "100 per cent. Nothing else."

Fortunately, they already have a squad consisting of many players hardened by the second tier, either at St Mary's or with their previous clubs.

Saints may not need to recruit too many new talents in order to have a group that is capable of competing at the top end of the division.

The likes of Harwood-Bellis, Jan Bednarek Ronnie Edwards, Flynn Downes, Shea Charles, Adam Armstrong and more are all proven at the level.

"There are going to be some players that leave but that core is sort of the same," said Spors, as he assessed the squad earlier this month.

"I think we have to find the right balance. Absolutely, yes, a couple of players have to stay because they are important," he added.

Winning promotion in the coming season is the most important task and the club should allow for some short-term planning to accommodate that.

Do not part ways with too many players almost guaranteed to be useful in the immediate term under the guise of future planning.

Armstrong, for example, might not be much use in the Premier League, but you can deal with that problem if you are lucky enough for it to become one.