Bristol City will be hoping to return to promotion contention next season under Michael Skubala.

The Robins finished 12th in 2025/26, dropping out of the top six after making the playoffs the previous season.

Gerhard Struber was hired head coach a year ago, however he was fired in March due to the team’s poor performance.

Roy Hodgson stepped out of retirement to manage the remainder of the season, with the Championship club finishing 11 points behind Hull City in sixth.

However, Skubala was chosen to lead the team for the following season, with the 43-year-old joining from Lincoln City.

Will Still, who left Southampton in November 2025, was one of the names mentioned as a candidate for the position.

Will Still outlines Bristol City’s decision following Auxerre’s relocation.

Still said that he chose not to join Bristol City based on his gut reaction, with the 33-year-old wanting to return to French football.

The former Southampton manager revealed that he spoke with former coaches he had worked with, implying that Auxerre was more than simply a backup plan and that he chose the French side above other clubs.

“I spoke with them both (Djibril Cisse and Jean-Alain Boumsong),” Still told L’Equipe.

“I was in advanced stages with several teams, like Lorient and Bristol [City].

“And I told myself, ‘Let your instincts guide you’.

“It was Auxerre, a really approachable club with a very personal touch.

I had heard a few things.

“But people know nothing.

“On the radio, they said, ‘He must prove himself again. Auxerre is a fallback option.

“No. I had opportunities during the season, including with Paris FC and Nantes.

“But I preferred to take my time.

“People forget I’m only 33.

“There are many aspects about football that I struggle with.

He maintained a strong reputation in France, guiding Reims and Lens to Ligue 1 success before joining Southampton last summer.

The 33-year-old was expected to guide the Saints back to the Premier League after their relegation under Ivan Juric.

He will now try to rebuild his image after a dismal tenure at St. Mary’s, where he lasted only 16 games in charge.

Tonda Eckert replaced Still at Southampton, and he guided the club to fourth place in the Championship.

Meanwhile, Skubala is moving up to the Championship with the Robins after leading Lincoln to promotion from League One.

Bristol City have already made many additions this summer in an attempt to return to promotion contention in 2026/27.

Lorent Tolaj has come from Plymouth Argyle, and Lisav Naif Eissat, Sam Greenwood, Jed Wallace, and Brad Collins have all been signed.

The remaining first-team acquisitions are Sam Tickle and Gibson Ya, with their debut league game of the season scheduled for August 15 against Millwall.

Michael Skubala’s appointment represents an attractive alternative to Will Still.

Still, he could have been an excellent fit for Bristol City, as he did some outstanding work with Southampton but was unlucky with a poor finishing record.

However, Skubala is a great alternative choice considering his excellent performance in bringing Lincoln to the Championship with fewer resources than their opponents.

Bristol City fans will be hoping that the 43-year-old can lead this squad to success in the upcoming season.

And perhaps Still will return to English football eventually, where he will demonstrate to everyone that he has what it takes to play at this level.