Hassle is over Hasenhuttl

Relegation-zone Southampton had to do something following another capitulation on Sunday afternoon, and, as it often happens, the head coach had to pay the price. Ralph Hassenhuttl was rumoured to be axed shortly after the final whistle of Southampton's Premier League 4-1 defeat to Newcastle, but the official news came a day later.

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Southampton are in terrible form, having only won once in their last nine games and just three times since the start of the campaign. When the reporters asked him whether he saw a way out of the team's predicament, he looked a man resigned to his impending sacking.

"No. Not at the moment."

At the time of Hasenhuttl's arrival in 2018, Southampton were lying in 18th place before he guided them to safety that season. Over the three subsequent campaigns, Southampton have finished 11th, 15th and 15th, but they have been on a dismal run of form over recent months.

The Austrian's career on the south coast came full circle as he left them in the same spot. Hasenhuttl departs with a record of 60 wins from 173 games - a 35 per cent win ratio.

Southampton will have two more matches before the World Cup break and will have to make the right decision on their next appointment. According to English media, Luton Town's manager Nathan Jones is the early favourite to take over at Saint Mary's.