Mark Hughes Appointed New Southampton Coach

Mark Hughes has been appointed as the new manager of Southampton.

Hughes has signed a contract until the end of the season and will take charge of the team in their FA Cup tie against League One side Wigan this weekend.

The former Stoke City coach replaces Mauricio Pellegrino, who was sacked on Monday with the South Coast club hovering just over the relegation zone.

“It’s a challenge I’m excited by. It’s a great opportunity to come back to a club I know well, a club I’ve got real affinity with, and I couldn’t turn that down.

“I bring experience of the Premier League. I understand what it takes in this league to win games.

“But first and foremost I think it’s about coming in and maybe being that different voice, that different message from myself and the staff, that will enable the players to recognise and focus on what needs to be done in this key period of the season.

“The objective clearly is to remain in the league and make sure we’re a Premier League club next year,” Hughes told the official Southampton website.