FORMER Saint Jason Puncheon has told Simon Rusk to stop picking players who will not be at the club in the Championship next season.

Puncheon, who made 81 appearances for the club, has urged Southampton to "act fast" with their preparations for the Championship season.

Southampton's relegation to the second tier has already been confirmed, and group technical director Johannes Spors is working to appoint a new manager.

The South Coast side are expected to sell several players this summer to recoup the funds required for a promotion push.

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Jason Puncheon made 81 appearances for Southampton between 2011 and 2014.Jason Puncheon made 81 appearances for Southampton between 2011 and 2014. (Image: PA).Puncheon now works as a head coach at Cypriot side Akritas Chlorakas and pointed out that Southampton's next boss will want "80 per cent" of his playing squad by July.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Puncheon said:  “When I’ve watched them, they’ve lost their way and the identity of what Southampton people want.

"It’s a massive club with people turning up week in and week out. It’s a naive way that they’ve played against teams in the Premier League for me.

"They invested with some good players, but sometimes you need to steady the ship, be compact and not concede anything.

“I think they’ve got too good of an infrastructure to face another relegation battle next season.

"The owners are probably going to want to get players in and out. That is never easy. Any coach that comes in will want 80 per cent of his squad in July.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis is the subject of reported interest from West Ham and others.Taylor Harwood-Bellis is the subject of reported interest from West Ham and others. (Image: Richard Crease)

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"They could have a rolling train of transfers until the first or second week of August. That is not good for a club trying to get promoted.

"I think they need to attack next season now. Relegation has happened. They need to start preparing for next season today.

“Players who aren’t going to be there next year don’t need to play. The players who will be there need to bed in. They need to act fast.”