 The following season started well, but Pardew was sacked barely a month into the season after an apparent fall-out with the club's board, and Nigel Adkins succeeded him as manager.Under his leadership, the Saints were promoted as runners-up.Southampton played in the Football League Championship where they quickly showed defiance so that by the end of the season, after winning 4–0 against relegated Coventry City, the Saints were back in the Premier League.