Sky Sports pundit slams Southampton decision to part ways with Juric

Juric departed Saints on Monday morning after the club's relegation from the Premier League was confirmed with defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.

The St Mary's side said they had "reached an agreement" to end Juric's spell at the club, with Simon Rusk placed in interim charge to end the season.

Saints have seven Premier League matches still to play and need two points to surpass Derby County's record low total of 11 set in 2007/08.

However, Merson, baffled, told Sky Sports: “What was he there for? I thought the whole idea was to bring him in so they can build for next season.

Former Pompey striker Paul Merson slammed relegated Saints (Image: PA)

“Otherwise, you might as well have kept Russell Martin, who's done it before and brought them up. It’s madness.

"What are they thinking? Clueless. Absolutely clueless. Russell Martin's brought them up, so he's proven at that. 

"He can do that job and he's worked in the lower leagues. I thought they got rid of him so Juric could come in and get ready for next season. 

"Or did they think they were going to win 10 games or something and stay up? Madness. They shouldn’t have got rid of Martin.

"He was out there trying to play football. Some things had to be tweaked, but he had team that are going to come back up. 

“He's got a team that's half-decent. They're not going to lose anybody. I can't see too many players fooling Premier League teams to sign them.

“They're sort of caught in between where those players are probably too good for the Championship, but not good enough for the Premier League.

“I could have understood Juric if they were keeping him, but I can't understand for the life of me how he's just gone now.”

Merson, who made 48 appearances for the club's bitter rivals Portsmouth, believes this current Saints side is the worst in Premier League history.

"You would have to say so, because at the end of the day, I don't think it's the strongest Premier League in the world," he added.

"They've done what they've done. Look at where Manchester United and Tottenham are. They are teams that should be higher up.

"It can't be that strong, you know. The only thing I'd say is while Southampton are the worst, Leicester are pushing them. 

"At least with Southampton, there's something about Southampton. You know what I mean? I've watched them play at Liverpool when they were unlucky. 

You know, they get a goal here and there. I watch Leicester, and I'm like, wow. Leicester are pushing them, even though they've got seven more points."