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Football News: Would sacking Mark Hughes as Manager of Southampton FC be a mistake at this moment in time

Would sacking Mark Hughes as Manager of Southampton FC be a mistake at this moment in time
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Although there will be many fans calling for Mark Hughes (MH) to be sacked after another poor home performance, I think its unlikely he'll be going anywhere for now. I hope not anyway.

Wait, hear me out. We need a new manager to reinvigorate the team and take us forward. MH has won 7 of his last 40 premier league games in charge so he is clearly not a coach heading in the right direction. But the club has just parted company with the head of football operations and has stated it will be conducting a thorough review. Sacking MH now could be a terrible misstep with no-one else to lead the team in the absence of a Director of Football or worse, hiring someone new to the post before that thorough review is completed, a Director of Football hired and given the time to identify the issues and who he thinks is the best person to fix them.

The most logical way to sort out this mess is to identify the best person to head up Football operations to replace LR. That person should then conduct the review a determine the long term strategy of the club including the direction they want the team to go in and the style of football they want to see. The head of football operations can then identify the best personnel to deliver that vision, from head coach to playing staff. Only then can recruitment and lager steps forward take place.

Lets not forget that the whole purpose of the steps the club has and is taking, reflect the board's agreement with us that there is a significant issue with the club's under performance over the last two and a bit seasons. Its not something that will be fixed by sacking MH or buying a new striker. MH is the third manager to try and fail to spark us into life. Another taking his place is likely to endure the same fate. Perhaps worse.

Instead, to give our next manager the best starting position, he'll need the new head of football in place; the very person who sought him out and hired him for the brand of football he coaches and his skillset. He will then be on sure footing, knowing that he doesn't have to earn his job. He has it and can simply focus now on working his magic and bringing the team up to the level they should be on.

I don't want things to be slow. I want them to take the time required to get things right, but equally want it done asap because the longer things stay as they are, the greater the risk we will be relegated this season. It's a fine balance and one the board has to get right. So for now, we should acknowledge that the board is acting and trying to get things right. We should be patient and not boo the team or the manager. They'll continue to need our support in the present while we all look to the future.

Written by figodasilva November 11 2018 15:09:37