Southampton already set out what they require in new manager

The St Mary's side parted ways with head coach Ivan Juric on Monday morning, following confirmation of the club's Premier League relegation.

Saints will compete in the Championship next season and will have a new boss at the helm, although Simon Rusk will oversee the interim period.

Sheffield Wednesday's Danny Rohl is a top target, while Saints have also been linked to Strasbourg's Liam Rosenior and out of work David Wagner.

Spors, speaking to the ​Daily Echo last month, insisted he had been tracking the global market of managers to ensure a smooth transition if needed.

"It is important that I know the market of managers. No manager in the world would be against that at their club," said the German.

Danny Rohl has taken Sheffield Wednesday from bottom of the Championship to competitive in both halves of the table (Image: PA) READ: Juric exit inevitable but Sport Republic must heed his warning

"On the pitch, off the pitch, I don't just mean the head coach, we want people that want to grow. We need this energy of development.

"My former assistant the last years is now a sporting director in Kaiserslautern. This is what makes me happy, this is what motivates me.

"If someone works closely with me, I can help him to make a next step and he is successful. Hopefully, he will be better than I am."

Spors, appointed technical director in February and overseeing the club's football departments, has made clear how he wants Saints to play.

"The direction in the style of play we are going now is a good fit for this club. This very intense style of football is something that fits here," he said.

"I think players need to be physically strong. They need to be fast. They need to have some aggressiveness in their mentality.

David Wagner won Premier League promotion with Huddersfield and qualified for the Championship play-offs at Norwich (Image: PA) READ: 'It's madness' - Sky Sports pundit baffled by Juric decision

"We should not change the style of play very often. Most important is that when you do change, it has to be an active decision.

"That is what happened recently. It was not my decision, it was long before my time, but from what I have understood, this was what was wanted.

"What happens often is that clubs change a manager in the past without really defining what style of play they want to have."

The comments made by Spors suggest Saints will look for a manager able to deploy a high-intensity pressing game in the Championship.

As he speaks about personal growth and progression, he could also favour a younger, developing manager, but is unlikely to rule anyone out.

Spors, who was a match analyst before becoming a head scout and director, also wants any prospective manager to be strong on set-pieces.