Harry Redknapp admits he was “stunned” by the decision to sack Nigel Adkins as Saints boss.

Like many fans, the QPR boss is still shocked the news, which says it all coming from a football man of his experience.

“Even now, having had time to digest the news, it’s still quite shocking,” says the former Saints boss. “The most worrying aspect of all is that yet another English manager has bitten the dust.

“I can’t say the new man won’t be a success. I wish him well. But this is a bitter blow for English managers and English football.

“Yes there are a few British managers – Alex Ferguson, David Moyes, Paul Lambert. But how many English? Six out of 20 clubs – it was seven until Friday. I have never met Nigel Adkins but I liked what I saw of him “Whenever I watched him on TV I thought he came across as honest, bubbly and positive. He’s an aspiring young coach who had come up the hard way and earned his place in the Premier League.

“I don’t know what Southampton want from their manager, particularly after the club has just come up from the Championship and bridged the biggest gulf in world football.

“He had turned things around with just two defeats in their last 12 Premier League games. So much so that I had begun to view Southampton as being clear of the relegation battle my team is facing.

“There’s not a manager around who could have done a better job than him. It will be interesting to watch the reaction from the crowd at Southampton tomorrow night when they play Everton.

“The other sad thing is that should Mauricio Pochettino win a couple of matches then within a month the fans will probably be chanting his name. It’s a fickle old game”