‘Hughes should be replaced by Cardiff match’

KELVIN DAVIS expects Southampton to install a permanent manager to replace Mark Hughes before Saturday’s Premier League trip to Cardiff.

First-team coach Davis will take interim charge for Saints’ league trip to Tottenham on Wednesday, after manager Hughes was sacked yesterday.

Former RB Leipzig boss Ralph Hasenhuttl is the front-runner to replace Hughes, and Davis has admitted he expects the Southampton board to move quickly on securing a new permanent manager.

Asked if him being given control only up to tomorrow’s Tottenham trip suggests a permanent appointment will happen before the weekend, Davis replied: “To me it does indicate that.

“But whether that happens or not will be up to the guys upstairs. I’m taking the team up until Wednesday and we’ll see after that.”

Former Wales international Hughes was sacked yesterday after just eight months at the St Mary’s helm, with Southampton boasting just one win in 14 Premier League matches this term and deep in the early-campaign relegation mire.

Saints will have seen four permanent managers in less than 18 months once Hughes’ long-term replacement is in post.

Southampton’s axing of Hughes and coaches Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki comes just a month after the departure of vicechairman of football Les Reed and technical director Martin Hunter.

A statement from the club yesterday read: “We would like to express our thanks to Mark and his staff for all of their efforts during their time at St Mary’s.”