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Mauricio Pellegrino Is Gone !

The news that most Saints fans wanted to hear was delivered earlier this evening with the news that Mauricio Pellegrino had been sacked.

Just before 9pm this evening the club issued a statement via their website to confirm that Pellegrino's reign was over.

"Southampton Football Club can today confirm that it has parted company with First Team Manager Mauricio Pellegrino.

Assistant Manager Carlos Compagnucci and Assistant First Team Coach Xavier Tamarit have also parted company with the club.

We would like to place on record our thanks to Mauricio, Carlos and Xavier for their efforts during their time with Southampton, and wish them well for the future.

The club will look to appoint a new management team as soon as possible, with the search for a replacement already underway."

You would hope that search is far more advanced than the club is letting on, certainly you would think that they just haven't picked up the paper on Sunday and suddenly realised that we are in trouble, youwould hopw that they have been planning for the scenario that results wouldn't pick up for a while now, rather than just hoping that they will.

Certainly there will not be many Saints supporters disappointed by this decision and now it's been made hopefully the supporters can now get behind the team and perhaps hope that what has been an awful season so far might just have a happy ending with not only an escape from relegation but a Wembley appearance or two.

What is needed though is a quick burst, other clubs have seen a new manager have a short term impact and from that point of view Saints could go with a short term appointment, Maco Silva would top the supporters list although Mark Hughes is the early favourite amongst the bookies.

I would not say it is a happy day for Saints, I had hoped that Pellegrino might be a good fit for Saints, he certainly had every chance to do so, however although there were some mitigating circumstances, much of it was also of his own doing, he had a squad that really should have done a lot better.

It's a sprint for the line now and hopefully we have had that boost both on and off the pitch that will enable everyone to pull together and concentrate on the positives.

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