Mark Hughes is back at Southampton after being appointed as their new manager shortly before close of play last night, replacing Mauricio Pellegrino, who was sacked on Monday evening.
Sparky made 60 appearances for the Saints during the latter years of his playing career, finding himself deployed as a grizzled midfield veteran as the club narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier League on the final day of the 1998/99 season.
Southampton have confirmed that Hughes has agreed a deal to take over until the end of the current campaign, at which point his position will be reassessed.
The struggling side are one place and one point above the relegation zone, having won just one of their last 17 league fixtures – a dismal run that stretches right back to November.
#SaintHughes! 😇
We are delighted to confirm that Mark Hughes is #SaintsFC's new First Team Manager: pic.twitter.com/PlChgAPU7t
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) March 14, 2018
On the plus side, after four years at Stoke, at least Hughes won’t have to buy any new ties.