Southampton Sack Mark Hughes After Poor Start

By Joshua Walters

Southampton have sacked manager Mark Hughes following the Welshman's poor performance in this season’s Premier League.

Mark Hughes recorded one win, seven defeats and six draws in 14 league games this season.

Hughes steered his last game on Saturday when his side gave away a giant 2-goal lead to draw 2-2 with his former club, Manchester United, at the St Mary’s Stadium.

Southampton are 18th on the league table with nine points, and a statement on Monday said the club and the manager have parted company

“Southampton can confirm it has parted company with first-team manager Mark Hughes”, it said. “Assistant first-team manager, Mark Bowen, and assistant first-team coach, Eddie Niedzwiecki, have also left the club.”

The statement thanked the coaches for their services and announced the appointment of former player Kelvin Davis as interim manager, as the club hunts for a new substantive trainer.

“The search for a new manager to take the club forward is already underway. First team assistant coach Kelvin Davis will lead the team for Wednesday’s Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspurs at Wembley,” the statement concluded.

Hughes was appointed last season, following the sacking of Mauricio Pellegrino, with the task to keep the side, which then was battling relegation, in the league.

The former Stoke City manager delivered on his target after winning the last game of the season against Swansea, a defeat that condemned the Swans into the Championship.