Tonda Eckert is yet to be officially dismissed as Southampton manager, but that hasn't stopped a long list of names from being linked to take on the St Mary's job.
The more it drags on, the more it does feel as if the German will be relieved of his duties, with talk now emerging that he has Italy lined up as his next onward destination, if he is given the boot from the South Coast club.
Who should the Saints appoint to replace such a controverisal, but once well-liked head coach?
Adam Lallana isn't the worst shout if they're looking for a seamless, in-house replacement, with Tommy Elphick also being rumoured as another promising young manager prospect from AFC Bournemouth.
Southampton could look to near neighbours Bournemouth to poach Elphick
Already situated on the South Coast with the Cherries, it wouldn't exactly be a mammoth journey for Elphick to undergo if he were to swap his coaching duties at the Premier League club for a main manager role at the Saints.
The 38-year-old - who played for the likes of Aston Villa and Brighton and Hove Albion during an illustrious EFL career - is near the top of a lot of lists when it comes to who could succeed Eckert, as he has become a well-liked coach figure behind the scenes at the Vitality Stadium.
He has rejected Bristol City in recent weeks, who saw him as a perfect manager to replace Roy Hodgson, so it might be difficult to tempt him to St. Mary's.
Indeed, reports state that he is keen to stay put at Bournemouth, to maintain a coaching role under the new reign of Marco Rose.
Yet, the allure of finally being able to cut your teeth as a manager would surely be tempting if it were offered to him, again, with it clear that he is ready for that leap.
Would Elphick be a good fit?
It is the in-thing at the moment to appoint a coach who is highly rated at a Premier League club, when looking at some successful past EFL appointments.
Kieran McKenna is now a three-time promotion winner with Ipswich Town, after walking away from Manchester United in 2021, with the 40-year-old never looking back with anguish that he left the Red Devils behind.
Elphick must be seduced by the idea of jumping into the St. Mary's hot-seat to begin his own managerial journey, when looking at how effortless McKenna has made his Ipswich journey seem, with the 38-year-old also spoken of glowingly by Andoni Iraola.
Before Iraola packed his bags at Bournemouth, the Spaniard would state that Elphick is "more than ready to be a manager" when he decides the time is right.
Once noted as being an "incredible" captain of the Cherries, too, by Eddie Howe, when he lined up with the captain's armband for the Premier League side, Southampton really could hit the jackpot getting Elphick in through the door to replace Eckert.
Some Southampton fans might think sticking by Eckert is the right move, but it does feel as if his position is untenable.
To win themselves a young, promising head coach in an Eckert-style mould, they should look no further than snapping up Elphick. It just remains to be seen whether the Cherries coach would be up for the daunting task of guiding the Saints out of their Spygate mire.
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