Hasenhuttl in line for Saints job after club sack Hughes
SOUTHAMPTON have moved quickly to replace sacked Mark Hughes with Austrian Ralph Hasenhuttl close to being appointed new manager.
Sportsmail revealed on November 21 that Hughes was close to the axe and his exit was confirmed yesterday with the club telling the Welshman, who was wearing his training kit, at 8.30am.
A move for 51-year-old former RB Leipzig boss Hasenhuttl is at an advanced stage. Hasenhuttl is out of work having left the Bundesliga club at the end of last season, with Southampton keen not to pay compensation.
Former Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores and Paulo Sousa were also sounded out. Southampton, who are third-bottom, acted swiftly, believing they made a mistake in not sacking previous boss Mauricio Pellegrino far earlier than March last season.
The club’s top-brass were convinced Hughes was underachieving and he was called to chairman Ralph Krueger’s office to be told of his sacking.
Hughes, it is understood, had an idea he was in line for the axe ahead of Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Manchester United after hearing the club had already met with candidates.
Yet just days prior, it had been intimated that Hughes would be offered time to turn things around, with talks about the January transfer window.
It is understood Hughes had reservations about the club’s summer business — especially the sale of Dusan Tadic to Ajax.
Ultimately, the fears of Chinese owner Gao Jisheng about the threat of relegation resulted in Hughes’ dismissal.
Kelvin Davis will take charge of the team for the game at Tottenham tomorrow, but Hasenhuttl is expected to be in charge for the crucial clash at Cardiff this weekend.
Southampton’s axing of Hughes and coaches Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki comes just a month after the departure of vice-chairman 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.’