Southampton’s board and ownership have given their full backing to manager Ralph Hasenhuttl after the shattering 9-0 record-equalling Premier League defeat to Leicester City on Friday, pledging to rebuild the squad rather than remove their Austrian coach.

The staff were told on Saturday morning that the club’s belief in the approach of Hasenhuttl is unshakeable and that there will be changes in the short-term as well as the long to players after two seasons of struggle. A new senior recruitment figure who will occupy a similar position to the departed director of football operations, Ross Wilson, will also arrive before the next international break.

The majority owner Gao Jisheng, a Chinese businessman, as well as chief executive Martin Semmens, are understood to be in firm agreement that Hasenhuttl, who arrived in December, is the right man to lead the club forward. The board also comprises former owner Katharina Liebherr who sold the stake to Gao, and the businessman’s daughter Nelly.

The club acknowledge that they have lost their way in recent years with mistakes in the transfer market but believe that there is a clear way forward with collegiate decisions being made on scouting intelligence to sign players. Currently in 18th place in January they will address the most pressing problems that they have at full-back and centre-back. There is an acceptance that the club do not have the right profile of player in every position to suit Hasenhuttl's pressing-style game.