Mark Hughes named Southampton manager after Mauricio Pellegrino’s axing
Saints are in a desperate fight against relegation and have turned to the Welshman until the end of the season
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MARK HUGHES has been named as Mauricio Pellegrino's replacement by Southampton.
The Welshman - under contract until the end of the season - has been out of work since being sacked by Stoke in January.
Hughes, 54, accepted he faced a huge challenge to revive the ailing Saints but insisted he was up to the task.
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.
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"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."