Southampton sack Mark Hughes: next manager contenders and betting odds

Southampton have sacked manager Mark Hughes following their poor start to the Premier League season.

After 14 games the Saints are 18th in the table and now face a fight against relegation. They drew 2-2 with Manchester United on Saturday after letting slip a two-goal lead at St Mary’s.

Hughes was only appointed Southampton boss in March this year after also being fired by Stoke City in January. He leaves Southampton along with assistant first-team manager Mark Bowen and assistant first-team coach Eddie Niedzwiecki.

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Southampton have confirmed that first-team assistant coach Kelvin Davis will take charge for the match against Tottenham at Wembley on Wednesday.

In a statement the south coast club said: “Southampton Football Club can today confirm it has parted company with first-team manager Mark Hughes. Assistant first-team manager Mark Bowen and assistant first-team coach Eddie Niedzwiecki have also left the club. We would like to express our thanks to Mark and his staff for all of their efforts during their time at St Mary’s.”

Who could take over from Hughes?

The Daily Telegraph reports that former RB Leipzig boss Ralph Hasenhuttl is the club’s preferred choice to replace Hughes.

Former Austria striker Hasenhuttl left Bundesliga club RB Leipzig at the end of last season but is regarded as “one of the best emerging coaches in Europe” says the Telegraph.

The Daily Echo adds that Southampton are keen on Hasenhuttl and he is top of the Saints hit list. If talks go well he could be appointed by the time Southampton play Cardiff on Saturday.

Contenders to replace Hughes

While the Telegraph and Daily Echo say that Hasenhuttl is the main contender, The Sun reports that former Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores is the odds-on favourite to replace Hughes.

Other contenders include former Everton boss Sam Allardyce and ex-Swansea and Fiorentina chief Paulo Sousa.

Next Southampton manager betting odds

Latest prices according to The Sack Race website (as of 3 December).

• Ralph Hasenhuttl: 1/1
• Quique Sanchez Flores: 5/1
• Paulo Sousa: 6/1
• Sam Allardyce: 10/1
• David Moyes: 16/1
• Nigel Pearson: 16/1
• Peter Bosz: 20/1
• Garry Monk: 20/1
• Chris Coleman: 25/1
• Luis Enrique: 25/1
• Leonardo Jardim: 25/1
• Roy Keane: 25/1
• Michael Laudrup: 25/1
• Tony Pulis: 25/1
• Craig Shakespeare: 25/1
• Arsene Wenger: 25/1