Southampton have sacked Nathan Jones as manager just over three months since he succeeded Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Jones’ departure comes after the Saints blew a one-goal lead to lose 2-1 to ten-men Wolves yesterday (11 February), which has left the club sat rock bottom of the Premier League for a seventh consecutive matchweek.
In a short club statement, Southampton said: ‘Southampton Football Club can confirm it has parted company with Men’s First Team Manager Nathan Jones.’
The club proceeded to confirm that Jones’ fellow coaches, Chris Cohen and Alan Sheehan have also left with immediate effect, having joined alongside Jones in early November 2022 in a move from Luton Town.
Southampton’s First Team Lead Coach, Rubén Selles will take charge of training as the Saints now prepare for a trip to Chelsea on Saturday 18 February, of which the club hopes that a new manager will be in place for that match.
Across his time in charge, Jones guided the club to just five wins in 14 matches across all competitions – of which one victory came in the Premier League as they won 2-1 at Everton in mid-January compared to two wins in FA Cup and Carabao Cup respectively.
Southampton also kept just one clean sheet across Jones’ reign which came in a shock 2-0 Quarter-Final victory at home to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup, before they went on to lose both legs of their semi-final against Newcastle United.
Jones however leaves the club as their joint-second shortest serving manager alongside Nigel Pearson who too managed 14 matches, albeit with a higer win percentage than his English compatriot of 35.71% to Pearson’s 21.43%.
Ex Leeds manager, Marcelo Bielsa has been earnedmarked as the early bookies favourite ahead of Hasenhuttl, who is a surprise contender for a return as the Austrian sits second in the odds ahead of Nuno Espirito Santo, Rafael Benitez and Steven Gerrard amongst others.
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