RALPH Hasenhuttl is set to commit his future to Saints by signing a new four-year deal.

The Austrian previously said that new contracts wouldn’t be discussed until his side hit 36 points but the break in play has given both parties time to sit down and thrash out a new deal.

Hasenhuttl was desperate to repay the club for backing him after their 9-0 defeat to Leicester at St Mary’s back in October.

Since arriving at Saints in December 2018, replacing the sacked Mark Hughes, Hasenhuttl has made a huge impact behind the scenes.

He’s helped the South Coast outfit move away from the style of play that bored supporters under previous regimes to a philosophy that fans enjoyed when Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman were at the helm.

Saints’ manager has also put his faith in youth players, handing out debuts to the likes of Will Smallbone and Jake Vokins, as well as backing duo Michael Obafemi and Yan Valery.

When the coronavirus crisis led to professional sport being placed on pause, Hasenhuttl, who returned to Munich, Germany, developed the SFC Playbook.

This, he hopes, will have a long-lasting impact on the club’s academy in the sense that all age groups will be playing the same brand of football as the first team.

Hasenhuttl spent hours compiling footage to create an archive of training sessions that can be easily followed by other coaches at the club.

After a slow start to the season, the Saints boss guided the club away from the relegation zone after wins against Chelsea, Tottenham and Leicester in quick succession.

Hasenhuttl is currently getting his side ready for the Premier League’s resumption later this month.

The Daily Echo is led to believe that striker Shane Long will be the next Saint to sign a new contract.

The Irishman’s current deal runs out at the end of June, but he wants to stay, and the club also want him to remain at St Mary’s.