MX23RW : Monday, January 6 00:51:07| >> :120:10929:10929:

Chairman: 'Claude Puel future to be decided next week'

Southampton manager Claude Puel is happy to wait until after Sunday's visit of Crystal Palace before holding talks with the club over his long-term future.

Claude Puel has insisted that he is simply focused on Southampton's final game of the season after it was revealed that his future will be decided in the summer.

Speculation regarding the Frenchman's job refuses to go away following a reported training-ground row earlier this month, combined with fan unrest due to a perceived negative style of play.

Speaking ahead of the Saints' goalless draw with Manchester United on Wednesday night, chairman Ralph Krueger said that a decision over the 55-year-old's position at St Mary's Stadium can wait until next week.

"The time for a football analysis is next week, after the season," he told BBC Sport. "If we, for the fourth season in a row, end up in the top half of the table, that's a good record to build on."

Puel is only concerned about preparing his side for the visit of Stoke City on the final day, though, on the back of what he believes was a good showing in the stalemate with United.

"I try to stay focused about our last game now," he told reporters. "After the season we have time to discuss and speak about this, and make a debrief. It's important to focus on our last game.

"It's a shame I think because in the first half we had good play without quality or intensity and the second half it was better with possibilities and opportunities.

"I think we deserved to score. I am happy for the second half because we played good football with good chances to win the game which is important for us."

Southampton are currently eighth in the Premier League table, two places worse off than this time 12 months ago.

ID:298422: cacheID:298422:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2774:
Written by
Daniel Lewis
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Southampton manager Claude Puel during the Premier League match against Arsenal on May 10, 2017
Read Next:
Puel: 'Speculation over future is strange'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool19144147192846
2Arsenal20117239182140
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1911442619737
4Chelsea20106439241536
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle20105534221235
6Manchester CityMan City2010463627934
7Bournemouth209653023733
8Aston Villa209563032-232
9Fulham207943027330
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
11Brentford208393835327
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs20731042301224
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd206592328-523
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham206592439-1523
15Crystal Palace204972128-721
16Everton193881525-1017
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1944113142-1116
18Ipswich TownIpswich2037102035-1516
19Leicester CityLeicester2035122344-2114
20Southampton2013161244-326


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!