Hughes up for a fortune
® MARK HUGHES will net a £2m bonus if he keeps Southampton in the Premier League.
Hughes, 54, will take his first training session today after agreeing to replace the sacked Mauricio Pellegrino at St Mary’s.
The former Stoke boss negotiated the bonus during two days of talks.
Hughes has agreed a deal until the end of the season, with the option of signing a long-term contract if Saints avoid the drop.
The former Blackburn and Manchester City manager inherits a team one place and one point above the bottom three after a run of one win in 17 games under Pellegrino.
But the Manchester United legend has never suffered a relegation.
Hughes, out of work since January following his sacking at Stoke, will become the second manager, after Sam Allardyce, to boss six different Premier League clubs. His first game in charge will be Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final at Wigan.
Saints winger Josh Sims is confident they have the right man to mastermind a great escape.
Sims said: “It’s a difficult situation we are in but anyone coming in can see the talent we have got here in the team and you will see the togetherness we’re going to show in the remaining fixtures.”
Hughes will be joined by his long-term assistants, Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki.