After one win in 14 Premier League games all season, Southampton have parted company with manager Mark Hughes.
In truth, the writing was on the wall for Mark Hughes for a while.
The experienced Welshman was the hero of St Mary’s just seven months ago when he saved Southampton from relegation after being parachuted in to replace the ailing Mauricio Pellegrino in the final few weeks of last season.
But Hughes has now paid the price for a dreadful start to his first full campaign on the South Coast. The Saints threw away a two goal lead to draw at home to Manchester United on Saturday, meaning they have picked up just one win from 14 Premier League games this season.
And, speaking to Jim White on talkSPORT (3 December, 10am), Southampton legend Francis Benali has admitted that he was disappointed by Hughes’ failure to kick on – and admits he’s concerned by the high turnover of managers at St Mary’s of late.
“There’s a bit of turmoil, it’s been a bit of struggle this season. It’s not good enough,” said Benali, who made over 300 league appearances for the Saints between 1988 and 2004.
“What I don’t like is a high turnover of mangers. That stability is important for any football club. I’m disappointed and I think it’s a shame.
“(Hughes) came in at a real crucial time (last season) and had that immediate impact and turned things around. It’s a real shame that positivity didn’t continue into the current campaign. Points have slipped away in games.”
It remains to be seen who Southampton pick to replace Hughes, but what is sure is that the next man at the helm will be the club’s fourth permanent manager since the start of the 2016/17 season.
And Benali has suggested that his former club have perhaps acted a little too soon in sacking Hughes, believing that there were plenty of positives to be taken out of the home draw with Manchester United – a game Hughes’ side were perhaps unfortunate not to win.
“You look at Newcastle and a couple of wins jump you up the table. A win or two can turn things around very quickly and I believe this squad are more than capable of staying up. You look at the game at the weekend and there were a lot of positive signs.
“You can’t say the players weren’t working for him.”
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