OptiNews - Friday 09 to Thursday 15 March 2018

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Sourced from The Independent article

Mauricio Pellegrino ‘sorry’ for leading Southampton into relegation battle

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Mauricio Pellegrino said he is “sorry” for leading Southampton into a relegation battle this season, after he was sacked by the club on Monday evening.

The Argentine manager arrived at St Mary’s last summer with a remit of building upon Claude Puel’s eighth-place finish and establishing a more adventurous style of play, but achieved neither, and departs with Saints one point and one place above the bottom three with eight games remaining.

“From the beginning I tried to do my best every single day,” Pellegrino said in a statement on Tuesday. “I tried to give back to the club and tried to represent the club with pride.

“Some moments we managed this, some moments we couldn’t, but we have been living a difficult season for many reasons. The manager is the face of a lot of decisions and actions, but I always tried to put the club first with my technical staff and the board behind me.

“I feel so sorry to leave the club in this situation, but when you don’t get results I understand the decision the club has to take.”

Southampton will look to appoint a new manager quickly, ideally before Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final with Wigan Athletic, although they have nearly three weeks before their next league fixture, at fellow strugglers West Ham United on 31 March.

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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 13/03/2018 20:04:05

| | Crystal Palace agree to sign Southampton defenderREADCRYSTALPALACE |
| | Pellegrino sorry for Southampton situationEIRSPORT |
| | ‘April Fools’ news’ could mean good chance for Southampton to land managerSPORTWITNESS |
| | Le Tissier responds when asked if he wants to become new Southampton manager, discusses Hughes, Silva chancesHEREISTHECITY |
| | Pellegrino: 'I accept Southampton exit’SPORTSMOLE |
|

| 5ft 10in international attacker is transfer target for Newcastle and SouthamptonFOOTBALLFANCAST |

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Sourced from Optimus trousers’ RSS Feed rss feed

Read Southampton

New content from (- Read Southampton)

| Southampton likely to finalise deal for manager by Wednesday | According to a report from the Daily Mail, Southampton are poised to close a deal to make Mark Hughes their new … 13-03-2018 |

Older content…

| Southampton make contact with ex-AC Milan manager over managerial vacancy20 hours ago |
| Southampton defender agrees to join Premier League rivals20 hours ago |
| Ex-Premier League boss not in contention for Saints job, despite his interest in the role20 hours ago |
| Ex-England star says Southampton need to hire a “hit man” manager20 hours ago |
| Southampton identify their number one candidate to take manager’s job20 hours ago |
| Pellegrino sacked, top class replacements in line to take over and more: Southampton news round-up20 hours ago |
| Southampton unlikely to make swoop for former Watford manager20 hours ago |
| Ex-Saints legend takes temporary charge of the club2 days ago |
| Who should be the next Southampton manager?2 days ago |

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Gallery: Saints begin Wigan preparations

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Take a look through our gallery from Tuesday’s training session at Staplewood Campus, as Southampton prepare for a trip to face Wigan Athletic in the Emirates FA Cup quarter-finals.

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Sourced from Sky Sports article

Mark Hughes emerges as frontrunner to become Southampton manager

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Mark Hughes is the frontrunner to take over as Southampton manager, Sky Sports News understands.

The Saints sacked Mauricio Pellegrino on Monday night, having won just one of their last 17 games, leaving them just a point clear of the Premier League drop-zone.

The experienced Hughes, who made just over 50 appearances for Southampton in his playing days, is being considered at St Mary’s as their hunt for a new boss progresses through its early stages.

Hughes was sacked by Stoke City just two months ago with the Potters in the bottom three, following a poor run of form. But they had two ninth-place finishes under the Welshman before finishing 13th last term.

The 54-year-old began his managerial career with the Wales national team and subsequently managed Blackburn, Manchester City, Fulham and QPR. He has never been relegated from the top flight as manager.

Meanwhile, Sky Sports News understands former West Ham manager Slaven Bilic and ex-Watford and Hull boss Marco Silva are not currently under consideration by the Southampton board.

The sacked Pellegrino issued a statement via the Saints website on Tuesday, in which he insisted he “tried to do his best” to keep the team competitive this season.

“I tried to give back to the club and tried to represent the club with pride. Some moments we managed this, some moments we couldn’t, but we have been living a difficult season for many reasons,” the Argentinian said.

"The manager is the face of a lot of decisions and actions, but I always tried to put the club first with my technical staff and the board behind me.

"I am really happy with the hospitality of the people of Southampton and the respect you have shown me in every moment during this experience. The fans have been behind us even in difficult games and I am really grateful for your support in those situations.

"I have to say thanks to Ralph (Krueger), to the board, to Les (Reed) and Ross (Wilson), all my technical staff and all the Southampton employees. Also to my players, who respected me in every single moment. I feel so sorry to leave the club in this situation, but when you don’t get results I understand the decision the club has to take.

“I wish everyone all the best for the rest of the season, I have enjoyed an amazing experience and I know that Southampton has everything required to move forward.”

Former fans favourite Kelvin Davis - who made over 250 appearances in goal for Southampton - took Tuesday’s training session at their Staplewood training ground, as they prepare for an FA Cup quarter-final against Wigan on Sunday.

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

Take a look at our images from today’s training, as #SaintsFC prepare to face #WAFC in the #EmiratesFACup quarte… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/973650907723452416

Retweets: 3

Favourites: 10

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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 13/03/2018 21:04:17

| | SPORTSKEEDA |
| | Pellegrino accepts Southampton sackingSUPERRUGBY |
| | Southampton make contact with ex-AC Milan manager over managerial vacancyREADSOUTHAMPTON |
|

| Southampton: Mark Hughes tipped as early favourite for Saints jobFANSIDEDSAINTSMARCHING |
| | Southampton defender agrees to join Premier League rivalsREADSOUTHAMPTON |
| | Southampton contact Mihajlovic | Football ItaliaFOOTBALLITALIA |

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Sourced from ESPN FC article

Mauricio Pellegrino says he accepts Southampton’s decision to sack him

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Mauricio Pellegrino says he accepts Southampton’s decision to sack him as manager after only nine months in charge at the club.

The Argentine was appointed as Claude Puel’s successor last June but Saints only managed to win five of their 30 Premier League games under his command.

A 3-0 defeat at relegation rivals Newcastle over the weekend left Southampton just one place and one point above the bottom three and Pellegrino’s axing was confirmed on Monday.

In a statement published on Southampton’s official website on Tuesday, Pellegrino said: "From the beginning I tried to do my best every single day, I tried to give back to the club and tried to represent the club with pride.

"Some moments we managed this, some moments we couldn’t, but we have been living a difficult season for many reasons. The manager is the face of a lot of decisions and actions, but I always tried to put the club first with my technical staff and the board behind me.

“I feel so sorry to leave the club in this situation, but when you don’t get results I understand the decision the club has to take.”

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Sourced from Optimus trousers’ RSS Feed rss feed

Read Southampton

New content from (- Read Southampton)

| Southampton make short-term contract offer to manager | Southampton have tabled a contract offer to Mark Hughes that will last until the end of the season. Hughes is the … 13-03-2018 |
| Southampton and Newcastle remain keen to land La Liga midfielder | Southampton are still being linked with a summer move for Eibar midfielder Dani Garcia. It was reported in December … 13-03-2018 |

Older content…

| Southampton likely to finalise deal for manager by Wednesday21 hours ago |
| Southampton make contact with ex-AC Milan manager over managerial vacancy21 hours ago |
| Southampton defender agrees to join Premier League rivals21 hours ago |
| Ex-Premier League boss not in contention for Saints job, despite his interest in the role21 hours ago |
| Ex-England star says Southampton need to hire a “hit man” manager21 hours ago |
| Southampton identify their number one candidate to take manager’s job21 hours ago |
| Pellegrino sacked, top class replacements in line to take over and more: Southampton news round-up21 hours ago |
| Southampton unlikely to make swoop for former Watford manager21 hours ago |

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Sourced from Mirror.co.uk article

Sacked Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino breaks silence after losing job

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Mauricio Pellegrino recognises Southampton had little choice but to sack him in their bid to preserve Premier League status.

The Argentinian, 46, was dismissed on Monday evening with the club 17th, only a point above the bottom three, and with just eight remaining league fixtures.

Press Association Sport understands that they hope to appoint a successor by Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final at Wigan and that their intention is to find a long-term replacement, not an interim one as other clubs in their position often consider.

Mark Hughes, until his sacking in January the manager at struggling Stoke, is the present bookies’ favourite to be appointed, but in an open letter on Southampton’s official website, Pellegrino said: "I feel so sorry to leave the club in this situation.

"But when you don’t get results I understand the decision the club has to take.

"As you know, my period in Southampton has finished. From the beginning I tried to do my best every single day, I tried to give back to the club and tried to represent the club with pride.

"Some moments we managed this, some moments we couldn’t, but we have been living a difficult season for many reasons.

"The manager is the face of a lot of decisions and actions, but I always tried to put the club first with my technical staff and the board behind me.

"The fans have been behind us even in difficult games and I am really grateful for your support in those situations.

"I have to say thanks to Ralph (Krueger, club chairman), to the board, to Les (Reed, executive director) and Ross (Wilson, director of recruitment and scouting), all my technical staff and all the Southampton employees.

"Also to my players, who respected me in every single moment.

“I wish everyone all the best for the rest of the season, I have enjoyed an amazing experience and I know that Southampton has everything required to move forward.”

Southampton’s next Premier League fixture is at relegation-threatened West Ham on March 31. Should they not succeed in appointing a new manager in time for the trip to Wigan, their priority will be on ensuring he has instead arrived by then.

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Sourced from Daily Mail article

Southampton get back to work following Mauricio Pellegrino sacking

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Southampton had to put the confusion regarding their managerial situation to one side as they trained ahead of Sunday’s trip to Wigan.

The Saints sacked manager Mauricio Pellegrino on Monday in a last-ditch bid to avoid Premier League relegation following the crushing 3-0 defeat to Newcastle at the weekend.

Pellegrino’s assistant manager Carlos Compagnucci and assistant first-team coach Xavier Tamarit have also left the club but the squad had to get back to business on Tuesday ahead of the quarter-final clash at the DW Stadium.

The players looked focused on the task at hand as they took past in a number of drills before playing a practice match on a cloudy day at their Staplewood Campus.

Pellegrino has issued a statement saying he accept the club’s decision to sack him as manager after only nine months in charge.

The Argentinian was appointed as Claude Puel’s successor last June but Saints only managed to win five of their 30 Premier League games under his command.

‘From the beginning I tried to do my best every single day, I tried to give back to the club and tried to represent the club with pride,’ he said.

'Some moments we managed this, some moments we couldn’t, but we have been living a difficult season for many reasons. The manager is the face of a lot of decisions and actions, but I always tried to put the club first with my technical staff and the board behind me.

‘I feel so sorry to leave the club in this situation, but when you don’t get results I understand the decision the club has to take.’

Former Saints player Mark Hughes has emerged as the shock front-runner to become their new manager.

Southampton moved quickly to approach out of work Hughes after axing Pellegrino with the final details set to be completed by Wednesday.

The Welshman is expected to be joined by his management staff Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki.

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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 13/03/2018 22:04:33

|

| Newcastle and Southampton ‘temptation’, player ‘discreet’ on summer free moveSPORTWITNESS |
| | I Hate To Agree With Robbie Savage…But!VITALFOOTBALL |
| | ‘Will take them down’ – Fans on Twitter slate journalist after comments on Southampton manager search | | Where …THETRANSFERTAVERN |
|

| Mauricio Pellegrino not bitter over Southampton sackingBTSPORT |
| | These Southampton stars should be really worried if Mark Hughes is appointedFOOTBALLFANCAST |
| | Southampton make contact with former AC Milan manager101GREATGOALS |

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

There are now fewer than 500 tickets remaining for #SaintsFC’s trip to #WAFC in the #EmiratesFACup quarter finals: http://sfcne.ws/Wigan180318

Retweets: 2

Favourites: 6

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Sourced from Daily Echo article

PHOTOS: Mark Hughes’ career in pictures (including altercations with Gazza, Vieira and Klinsmann)

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MARK Hughes is the early favourite to take over as Saints boss after Mauricio Pellegrino was sacked.

The Welshman has taken charge of clubs including Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City in his career, as well as the Wales national team.

As well as playing for Saints, the striker had spells at huge clubs including Manchester United, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich.

We took a look through the archives and found some brilliant pictures from his playing career.

Scroll through the gallery above to see the photographs.

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Sourced from Daily Echo article

Saints confident of quick managerial appointment

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SAINTS are wasting no time in their attempts to hire a new manager and are confident of naming Mauricio Pellegrino’s replacement very soon.

The Daily Echo understands vastly experienced Premier League boss, Mark Hughes, is the frontrunner for the role at this stage.

The former QPR, Fulham, Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers chief is available after getting sacked by Stoke in January and would be able to come in at a moment’s notice.

That would suit Saints who want a manager on the training ground as soon as possible to begin working on turning around their troubled campaign.

Saints are currently a point above the drop zone after an appalling run of just one win in 17 league games, which led to Pellegrino’s departure late on Monday.

Hughes, 54, has never been relegated as a top-flight manager and has a wealth of experience, having taken charge of nearly 450 Premier League games.

The Welshman left the Potters in the relegation zone in January after a poor run of five defeats in seven league games, and losing to League Two Coventry City in the FA Cup.

Hughes, who played 60 times for Saints in a spell at The Dell from 1998-2000, had been in charge at Stoke for four and a half years.

It is understood that Marco Silva, the former Hull and Watford boss, is not in contention for the St Mary’s role at this point.

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Sourced from Daily Echo article

READER LETTER: Please appoint Matt Le Tissier as new Saints boss

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PLEASE inform the Saints board members to appoint Mathew Le Tissier as the new manager – he is an Englishman and will know how to rebuild enthusiasm into the players to keep them up in the Premier League.

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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 13/03/2018 23:04:48

| | Would hiring Rodgers see Southampton win race for Celtic’s Dembele?HEREISTHECITY |
|

| Liverpool fans on Twitter are seriously laughing at Southampton after recent sacking | | Where football transfer …THETRANSFERTAVERN |
| | West Ham fans mock Southampton about Mark Hughes news ahead of crucial clashFOOTBALLLONDON |
| | Southampton likely to finalise deal for manager by WednesdayREADSOUTHAMPTON |
| | PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Mario Lemina - Gabon star’s Southampton part ways with manager - 2019 Africa Cup of Nations QualifiersAFRICANFOOTBALLCOM |
| | Report: Southampton closing in on Mark Hughes appointmentHEREISTHECITY |

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Sourced from The Independent article

Mark Hughes leads race to take over at Southampton after the sacking of Mauricio Pellegrino

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Mark Hughes is firmly in the driving seat to take over at Southampton as the south-coast club look for a Premier League veteran to steer them to safety.

The Welshman was sacked by Stoke in January with the Potters in the bottom three, having posted comfortable mid-table finishes in his previous four seasons in Staffordshire and three of those in the top half.

Hughes is understood to be keen to return to management and believes Southampton to be a well-run club blessed with talented players that he had targeted – and missed out on – during his time with Stoke.

But there are questions as to whether Saints are ready to commit long term to the former Wales, Blackburn and Fulham boss or whether they see him as a firefighter.

Southampton’s predicament, and the fact that Hughes is the strongest candidate that ticks their boxes, means that the 54-year-old manager holds some leverage over the club he played for more than 50 times in the 1990s.

Slaven Bilic and Marco Silva, two other recently fired Premier League managers, are not thought to be in the running. Benfica are planning a run at former Watford head coach Silva should Rui Vitoria fail to win the Portuguese title.

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Sourced from BBC article

Mauricio Pellegrino: Sacked Southampton boss says ‘many reasons’ for struggles

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Sacked Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino says there are “many reasons” for the club’s recent struggles.

The 46-year-old Argentine left the Premier League club on Monday after only one win in 17 league games.

It means Southampton are one point and one place above the relegation zone with eight games left this season.

“From the beginning I tried to do my best every single day,” Pellegrino said in a statement published by the club.

“The manager is the face of a lot of decisions and actions, but I always tried to put the club first with my technical staff and the board behind me,” Pellegrino added.

The club finished eighth in the Premier League last year and reached the final of the League Cup. Of this season’s contrasting fortunes, Pellegrino said: “We have been living a difficult season for many reasons.”

He also said his players “respected me in every single moment”, despite suggesting players had given up during Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Newcastle.

Assistant manager Carlos Compagnucci and assistant first team coach Xavier Tamarit have also parted company with the club.

The club said it wants to “appoint a new management team as soon as possible, with the search for a replacement already under way”.

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Sourced from talkSPORT article

Southampton FC news: Former Saints player Mark Hughes in talks to become manager

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Mark Hughes is in talks to become Southampton’s next manager, Press Association Sport understands.

With Saints languishing 17th in the Premier League having managed just one win in 17 top-flight matches, the club sacked former Argentina international Mauricio Pellegrino on Monday evening.

Southampton are hoping to have Pellegrino’s successor in place for Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Wigan and Press Association Sport understands talks are under way with former Saints player Hughes.

The Welshman was sacked by Stoke in January after four-and-a-half years, having previously managed Wales, Blackburn, Manchester City, Fulham and QPR.

Negotiations on a deal that suits Saints and Hughes are understood to have started, with outgoing manager Pellegrino sending an open letter to fans.

“I feel so sorry to leave the club in this situation,” the Argentinian wrote on the club’s official website.

"But when you don’t get results I understand the decision the club has to take.

"As you know, my period in Southampton has finished. From the beginning I tried to do my best every single day, I tried to give back to the club and tried to represent the club with pride.

"Some moments we managed this, some moments we couldn’t, but we have been living a difficult season for many reasons.

"The manager is the face of a lot of decisions and actions, but I always tried to put the club first with my technical staff and the board behind me.

"The fans have been behind us even in difficult games and I am really grateful for your support in those situations.

"I have to say thanks to Ralph (Krueger, club chairman), to the board, to Les (Reed, executive director) and Ross (Wilson, director of recruitment and scouting), all my technical staff and all the Southampton employees. Also to my players, who respected me in every single moment.

“I wish everyone all the best for the rest of the season, I have enjoyed an amazing experience and I know that Southampton has everything required to move forward.”

Southampton were thrashed 3-0 by fellow strugglers Newcastle at the weekend and head to embattled West Ham on March 31 in their next Premier League match.

Hughes played for Saints between 1998 and 2000, making 54 appearances in the Premier League.

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