Nathan Jones appointed new Southampton manager after Ralph Hasenhuttl sacking

Southampton have confirmed the appointment of Nathan Jones as their new manager.

The highly-rated Welsh coach has ended his second stint in charge at Championship side Luton to succeed Ralph Hasenhuttl, who was sacked earlier this week after a run of just one win in nine matches that left the Saints sitting in the Premier League relegation zone continued with a dismal 4-1 home defeat by Newcastle.

Jones swiftly emerged as Southampton’s preferred option to succeed the Austrian, who had been at the helm for four years after replacing Mark Hughes in similar circumstances in December 2018.

Amicable talks quickly progressed with Luton, with Jones agreeing a three-and-a-half-year contract to take the reins at St Mary’s.

Joining the 49-year-old in swapping Kenilworth Road for the south coast are first-team coaches Chris Cohen and Alan Sheehan.

Jones will take charge of Southampton for the first time against Liverpool in the Premier League at Anfield on Saturday, before a six-week break for the World Cup in Qatar.

“I’m really proud to be given this opportunity,” Jones said. “I know a lot about the club from back in the days of The Dell, to coming here to St Mary’s, and it’s a wonderful football club.

“A lot of my family are Southampton fans, which doesn’t half help, and I feel really, really proud to be given the opportunity, and I’m really looking forward to getting started.

“Obviously, I wanted to manage in the Premier League, I’ve dreamt of that since I’ve become a coach or a manager, but this club in particular – because of how it’s run, because of the structure, because of how they look deeper than just results – really appeals to me.”

Former Southend, Brighton and Yeovil midfielder Jones is highly-regarded for his work at Luton, whom he helped guide from League Two back to the Championship before returning for a second spell in 2020 following an unsuccessful period with Stoke.