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Mark Hughes named as new Southampton manager

Mark Hughes has been appointed as the new manager of Southampton.

Hughes has signed a contract until the end of the season and will take charge of the team in the FA Cup tie against League One side Wigan at the weekend.

He told the official Southampton website: "It's a challenge I'm excited by. It's a great opportunity to come back to a club I know well, 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."

The south coast club, hovering just above the Premier League relegation zone, have been searching for a new boss following the sacking of Mauricio Pellegrino on Monday, and early reports suggested Hughes was favourite.

Former Manchester United star Hughes had been out of work since leaving Stoke in January amid a poor run of form.

The 54-year-old, who played for Southampton between 1998 and 2000 and has also managed Wales, Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Fulham and Queens Park Rangers.

Southampton's defeat to Newcastle last weekend means they have just one win from their last 17 league games.

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