Southampton have parted ways with manager Ivan Juric following the club’s relegation from the Premier League, the club confirmed in a statement released Monday.

The decision comes just 24 hours after the Saints were officially condemned to the drop with a 3-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.

The loss cemented Southampton’s place at the bottom of the table, sealing their relegation with seven games still to play – a new Premier League record for the earliest demotion, surpassing Derby County (2008) and Huddersfield Town (2019), who both went down with six matches remaining.

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Juric, 49, was appointed in December to replace Russell Martin, inheriting a side already entrenched in relegation danger.

However, his tenure failed to inspire a turnaround, yielding just one league victory – away at Ipswich in February – in 17 matches. Southampton have lost 25 of their 31 Premier League fixtures this season, including seven of their last eight.

“We can confirm that we have today reached an agreement with our men’s first-team manager, Ivan Juric, to end his spell at the club,” Southampton said in a club statement.

“Ivan came to Southampton at a tough time and was tasked with trying to improve a squad in a difficult situation. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen performances progress the way we had hoped, but we would like to thank Ivan and his staff for their honesty and hard work as they fought against the odds to try and keep us up.”

Simon Rusk will take charge as interim manager for the remainder of the season, supported by former Southampton midfielder Adam Lallana.

With their return to the Championship now confirmed, the club emphasized the importance of providing clarity as they prepare for a crucial summer of rebuilding.

“We remain incredibly grateful for the ongoing support of our fans. Their continued dedication and passion, despite what has been a very tough season, is remarkable and is appreciated by everyone at the club,” the statement added.

“Despite the challenges that relegation will bring, our goal is to restore a sense of pride for them in their team and club once again.”

Southampton earned promotion to the Premier League last season through the Championship play-offs but have endured a torrid campaign in the top flight.

Abia State took its turn to play host to the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) torch tour in brief ceremonies at the Umuahia Township Stadium and at the Government House.

The state Commissioner for Youth and Sport, Hon Nwaobilor Ananaba Nwadinma received the torch at the Umuahia Township Stadium before leading Team Abia to the Government House where it was presented to the Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti.

On arrival at the Government House, Team Abia was treated to a sumptuous dinner with the governor.

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The team then proceeded to the governor’s yard, where the torch was lit and presented to the governor by the commissioner to the admiration of everyone who witnessed the lighting of the torch.

In his speech the governor charged Team Abia to go and conquer in Uyo and come back to receive a state reception.

Gov Otti expressed appreciation to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for initiating the sports festival, which he noted will go a long way to create unity, spot and harness untapped talents in the Niger Delta states.

The Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) has been described as an intervention project of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) designed to include all youths in the region irrespective of gender and physical abilities.

According to the Executive Director Finance and Administration, NDDC, Alabo Boma Iyaye the intent behind the design speaks to global practises of inclusivity in sports and other aspects of life.

He made the assertion while appearing on the ARISE television Morning Show.

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He maintained that the rationale for including Para-Athletics and Para-lifting in the 17 games festival event, Iyaye said, “there are youths in the region with physical disabilities and they must enjoy the benefits of the NDDC intervention”.

“At the international level, we have the Paralympic Games organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to cater for persons with physical disabilities and the Niger Delta Sports Festival cannot deviate from the international best practices” remarked Iyaye who also serves as the Chairman of the NDSF Main Organising Committee (MOC).

He also spoke of the reason behind the NDDC decision to extend its intervention program to Sports, noting that “sports is a powerful too for national unity. We want to provide a platform for youths in the nine mandate states of NDDC to bond, to know each other and find expression for their talents”.

“There is a need to regenerate the line of supply of athletes to represent Nigeria as a country in international sports competitions and the festival will afford us the opportunity to discover new talents that will be nurtured to replace the likes of Blessing Okagbere, Enefiok Udo-Obong, Blessing Oborodudu, Victor Ikpeba, Emmanuel Amuneke, Seun Ogunkoya and many others”.

The NDDC since founded by an act of parliament in July 2000 has championed the provision of infrastructure in roads, health care, education and skills acquisition.

Iyaye said that delving into sports would enable those who may not be successful in education and artisan skills to build a career in sports.

The NDSF which started with trials in the local government and federal constituencies will be held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State from April 1-8. About 3000 athletes will compete in 17 sports.