Since acquiring a majority stake in Southampton through his company Sport Republic in early 2022, Dragan Solak has experienced a whirlwind of highs and lows as club owner. Two relegations, one promotion, and five different permanent managers have punctuated his tenure so far. Despite the turbulence, the 60-year-old Serbian businessman insists he has "no plans" to sell the club and remains committed to a long-term vision for the Saints.

Speaking publicly to BBC Sport for the first time, Solak reflected on his journey with the club, which includes dramatic playoff success and Premier League disappointment. "We have had some really great highs and enjoyable moments but we have also had devastating and sad periods - but I guess that's the sport," he said. "But the good thing is that my love, respect and loyalty for Southampton is just growing through all of this."

One of the most contentious moments of Solak's tenure was the sacking of Russell Martin, who guided Southampton back to the Premier League only to suffer a rapid fall from grace. Despite just one win and 13 defeats, Solak suggested that Martin was "unlucky" and may have kept his job if not for VAR. "In my opinion VAR took eight points off Russell's team. If he had those eight points more in December I think he would probably manage the team through the whole season."

The implication is clear: Solak believes that with those additional points, Martin would have overseen a more competitive season. Instead, after a humiliating 5-0 defeat to Tottenham, Martin was dismissed, and his successor Ivan Juric also failed to arrest the decline, leading to another relegation.

Will Still now becomes the fifth permanent manager under Solak, following Ralph Hasenhuttl, Nathan Jones, Russell Martin, and Ivan Juric. The managerial instability reflects the club’s struggle to find consistency during a volatile period.

Adding to the upheaval was the departure of director of football Jason Wilcox, who left for Manchester United just six months into the role. "I really liked working with Jason... but if you get the call from Manchester United, you go," said Solak, who admitted the club didn’t replace Wilcox quickly enough. "That was very, very costly."

Contrary to media speculation, Solak insisted that he has no intentions of selling Southampton. "I have never had any plans of selling the club. We have quite a few very exciting projects," he said. However, he is open to bringing in new partners if Southampton earn promotion again. "I might invite some partners... because I think we'll need maybe more [investment]."

Sport Republic, the investment firm founded by Rasmus Ankersen and Henrik Kraft, has expanded its portfolio with involvement in Goztepe (Turkey), Valenciennes (France), and FC Mali Coura (West Africa). Despite this diversification, Solak maintains that Southampton remains central to their vision.

After finishing bottom of the Premier League table, 26 points adrift from safety, Solak acknowledged the growing divide between England’s top two tiers. "The truth is that the difference is too big," he said. "They should redistribute wealth... it will be a much more meaningful competition between the teams."

This candid admission raises questions about financial equity in English football. All three promoted clubs—Leicester, Ipswich, and Southampton—were relegated immediately, highlighting the increasing difficulty of surviving in the top flight.

In May, Will Still was appointed head coach on a three-year deal. The former Reims boss, who made headlines as Europe’s youngest top-flight manager at age 30, arrives with ambition and intelligence. "I spent some time with him and I have to say he's definitely a very smart guy," said Solak. "He believes his place is in British football and he's here to prove it."

Still’s appointment signals a fresh chapter for Southampton. Having left Lens and turned down other offers, Still's commitment to a challenging Championship campaign shows both courage and confidence.

Solak's reign began with Hasenhuttl steering the club to a mid-table finish in 2022. But things unravelled quickly. Nathan Jones lasted just 95 days and was followed by a cascade of managerial changes. Relegation was confirmed with defeat to Fulham, and the club went on to rebuild under Russell Martin, only to fall again.

Yet even amid this chaos, there have been positives. Martin’s side earned praise for their possession-based football and earned promotion through a dramatic play-off run, capped with victory over Leeds United at Wembley.

As Solak envisions a more stable and sustainable future, his ten-year plan includes developing the club beyond dependency on TV revenues. Whether Southampton can turn promise into progress remains to be seen—but for now, their owner remains steadfast.