Football
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Southampton sack Mark Hughes after five wins from 27 games, search for replacement underway

Southampton have confirmed that they have parted company with manager Mark Hughes with former RB Leipzig boss Ralph Hasenhuttl the favourite to replace him.

Hughes, who signed a three-year contract in May, won just five of his 27 games in charge at St. Mary's and leaves with the club 18th in the Premier League following Saturday's 2-2 draw with Manchester United.

Assistant manager Mark Bowen and coach Eddie Niedzwiecki have also left the club, while Kelvin Davis will take charge of Wednesday's game at Tottenham.

Southampton said in a statement the search for Hughes' replacement is already underway.

The former Stoke and Manchester City boss helped guide Southampton to Premier League survival last season after joining in March on a short-term deal, before extending that at the end of the campaign.

However, he has been unable to steer the club further away from the relegation zone this campaign, having won just once in 14 Premier League games.

Southampton reached the FA Cup semifinals last year -- their furthest run in the competition since 2003 when they reached the final -- after Hughes took charge at the quarterfinal stage, but were beaten 2-0 by eventual winners Chelsea.

The Saints will face Arsenal and Manchester City as well as relegation rivals Cardiff and Huddersfield before the new year, and are currently a point from safety.

Hughes becomes the second Premier League manager to be sacked this season, after Fulham replaced Slavisa Jokanovic with Claudio Ranieri in November.

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