Southampton sack Mauricio Pellegrino after dismal run

Under Argentinean Pellegrino, 17th-placed Southampton have won one out of their last 17 league games and are only one point clear of Crystal Palace and Stoke City in the relegation places.

They lost 3-0 at Newcastle on Saturday with their last Premier League win coming in early February at bottom club West Bromwich Albion.

Southampton have eight matches to save their top-flight status and hope to make an appointment before the FA Cup quarter-final at Wigan on Sunday.

Former Independiente and Alaves coach Pellegrino won eight out of 34 matches at Southampton, losing 13 and drawing 13.

"Southampton Football Club can today confirm that it has parted company with First Team Manager Mauricio Pellegrino," said Southampton in a statement.

"Assistant Manager Carlos Compagnucci and Assistant First Team Coach Xavier Tamarit have also parted company with the club.

"The club will look to appoint a new management team as soon as possible, with the search for a replacement already underway."

Former Stoke City manager Mark Hughes, ex-Watford boss Marco Silva and former West Ham United head coach Slaven Bilic are the frontrunners in the betting to take over at St Mary's Stadium.

Only Harry Redknapp and Steve Wigley have a worse points-per-game record among Southampton managers in the Premier League than 46-year-old former Argentina defender Pellegrino.

Saints visit third-tier Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday but their next league game is not until March 31 when they travel to relegation rivals West Ham United.

Southampton, who are the ninth Premier League club to change manager this term, are in their sixth straight season in the top flight and have not finished lower than 14th in that time.

They finished eighth for the fourth successive season in the previous campaign and also reached the League Cup final which they narrowly lost to Manchester United at Wembley in February 2017.