Southampton are sacking Ralph Hasenhuttl after suffering a heavy 4-1 defeat at the hands of Newcastle United this afternoon.
The Saints were second best throughout and were 1-0 down at the break through Miguel Almiron’s goal.
Chris Wood and Joe Willock made it 3-0 as Southampton fans voiced their anger.
Romain Perraud pulled one back for Southampton but Bruno Guimaraes restored Newcastle’s three-goal lead.
Southampton are sacking Ralph Hasenhuttl
It’s not often you hear Southampton fans booing and that may well have felt like the point of no return.
Hasenhuttl has been under pressure for a while but such a drab performance today appears to have sealed his fate.
The Athletic report that Southampton are sacking Hasenhuttl after almost four years at the helm.
It’s stated that Hasenhuttl will certainly be gone by the start of the World Cup break but his departure could now come sooner.
Southampton face Liverpool in the Premier League next week and Hasenhuttl may well be gone before that game.
The Austrian has kept Southampton in the Premier League consistently and this isn’t the easiest job in the Premier League.
The Saints have focused heavily on signing young players and that can be difficult to mesh together against proven Premier League players.
Still, Southampton have lost six of the last nine and it looks like Hasenhuttl is on his way out.
So who could Southampton go to replace Hasenhuttl?
The Times reported in October that Southampton fancied two current Premier League managers to replace Hasenhuttl.
Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper was one of those names with Leeds United’s Jesse Marsch believed to be the other.
Both managers have come under huge pressure this season and Southampton may end up making a push to appoint either of them.
Southampton will now give themselves the World Cup break to try and find a new boss, with Leeds and Forest possibly preparing to receive calls.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
