Southampton have conducted a backroom reshuffle which includes a new role for Adam Lallana.
The Saints are in a state of flux having sacked head coach Will Still earlier this month. Still arrived over the summer but was dismissed following a poor start to the season.
Replaced on an interim basis by Tonda Eckert, Southampton have been forced into a rejig following another key exit.
Southampton Reshuffle First Team Coaching Structure
Southampton have been forced into a first team restructure following the departure of Paul Trollope. Trollope, who had been working as first team assistant manager, has left St Mary’s Stadium to take up a position with Wolverhampton Wanderers. He joins new boss Rob Edwards’ coaching team following his move from Wolves.
A statement on Wolves’ website said: “Rob Edwards has added the experienced Paul Trollope to his coaching staff as assistant head coach. Trollope brings 20 years of coaching knowledge to Compton Park, having managed at Bristol Rovers earlier in his career and coached at the likes of Luton Town – under Rob Edwards – and most recently Southampton.
“As a player, Trollope represented Derby County in the Premier League and was capped nine times by Wales, before taking charge of 284 Bristol Rovers games, winning promotion to League One in that time as he transitioned out of playing. Since then, the 53-year-old has been on the coaching staff at Cardiff City, Brighton & Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest, and was joint-assistant manager to Edwards during Luton’s promotion to the top flight.”
After Trollope’s exit, Southampton have announced that Eckert will be assisted by coaches Jeremy Newton, ex-Saint Ben Reeves, Ryan Flood and analyst Albert Jones.
Adam Lallana will take up the position of Interim Under-21s Head Coach, assisted by Matthew Etherington.
We can confirm that First Team Assistant Manager Paul Trollope has left the club to join Wolves.
A backroom staff update 👇
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) November 21, 2025
It comes with the news that Eckert will take charge of Southampton’s next three fixtures, as revealed by GIVEMESPORT sources.
Stepping up from his previous role as under-21 manager, Eckert made a wonderful start by securing a 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers in his first game in charge. That was followed by a 3-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday before the international break.
As a result of back-to-back wins, Eckert has now emerged as a shock contender to replace Still on a permanent basis. While GIVEMESPORT sources have indicated that the under-21 boss is not guaranteed the job long-term, he will be given an extended opportunity to stake his claim for the role.
Southampton face Charlton Athletic this weekend, before hosting Leicester City on Tuesday and then a trip to face Millwall at The Den on November 29.
If those fixtures go well, Eckert could emerge as a genuine contender for the Southampton job on a permanent basis.
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