New Southampton boss Mark Hughes to pocket £2million survival bonus if club avoids relegation from Premier League to Championship
Former Stoke boss takes over at St Mary's after Mauricio Pellegrino was sacked following one win in 17 matches
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MARK HUGHES will net a £2million survival bonus if he keeps Southampton in the Premier League.
Hughes, 54, will take his first training session on Thursday after agreeing to replace the sacked Mauricio Pellegrino at St Mary’s.
The former Wales coach negotiated the lucrative bonus during two days of talks with the Saints hierarchy.
Sparky has agreed a deal to the end of the season with the option of a long-term contract if the club stay up.
He said: “It's a challenge I'm excited by.
"It's a great opportunity to come back to a club I know well, and a club I've got real affinity with, and I couldn't turn that down.
"I bring experience of the Premier League. I understand what it takes in this league to win games.
“But first and foremost I think it's about coming in and maybe being that different voice, that different message from myself and the staff.
"That will enable the players to recognise and focus on what needs to be done in this key period of the season.
"The objective clearly is to remain in the league and make sure we're a Premier League club next year.
"That's where this club needs to be, that's where it should be, and that's our intention to make sure it remains there."
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Former Blackburn and Manchester City chief Hughes inherits a team one place and one point above the bottom three after a horror run of only one win in 17 league games.
His first game in charge will be Sunday’s FA Cup quarter- final at Wigan. Hughes will also become just the second man after Sam Allardyce to boss six different Premier League clubs.
The former Manchester United striker, who has never been relegated, had been out of work since being sacked by struggling Stoke in January. Yet Southampton winger Josh Sims is confident they will stay up.
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He said: “It’s a difficult situation we’re in but anyone coming in can see the talent we have here and you will see our togetherness in the remaining fixtures.
“It’s a big decision by the board but, as players, we have to be focused on our job. We need to get the points on the board.”
Hughes will be assisted by long-term lieutenants Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki.
