Glenn Hoddle is also mentioned as the other candidate to manage the Football League Championship Division club. The Saints were relegated from the Premiership in 15 May 2005, following a 2-1 home defeat to Manchester United, that ends their 27 consecutive seasons of top division football.

Hoddle has admirers on the club’s board, but it remains questionable whether he would want to return after the club’s fan-base had blocked him to make a return in 2004.

But according to Telegraph, an internet poll of Southampton supporters last night placed him as the top choice to succeed Burley, ahead of Shearer, Chris Coleman and Billy Davies.

For Alan Shearer, the chance to manage the Saints will make the first stepping-stone into his major ambition to be Newcastle United manager in the future.

Southampton was his first professional club when Shearer began his playing career and as he has said before, he still sees the opportunity to manage other club than Newcastle United and if he was chosen as the Saints new manager it would be an emotional pull for him.