Southampton set to SACK Ralph Hasenhuttl after fans boo flops off pitch following 4-1 defeat to Newcastle

SOUTHAMPTON are set to sack manager Ralph Hasenhuttl.

The Austrian is set to depart either before Southampton's game against Liverpool next weekend or during the World Cup.

Southampton were thrashed 4-1 by Newcastle at home on Sunday and were booed off the pitch.

The result leaves the Saints in the relegation zone with just one win in nine matches.

Asked about Southampton's difficult situation, a downbeat Hasenhuttl said: "It is the first time we are under the line (relegation zone) since I'm here at that time of the year.

"So this is definitely something that shows we have not done enough so far this season."

Southampton have one Premier League game left until the World Cup break but results have forced the club to make a decision on their manager.

Hasenhuttl is close to his four-year anniversary as Saints boss having joined in December 2018.

But he could be gone before Southampton visit Anfield next Saturday.

Sheffield Wednesday visit the St. Mary's Stadium on Wednesday in the EFL Cup third round and it is not clear whether Hasenhuttl will be in charge for that match.

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Hasenhuttl has won 60 of his 173 games in charge of Southampton and has led the Saints to two 15th-place finishes in the last two years.

Saints finished as high as 11th under Hasenhuttl in 2019-20 and the 55-year-old also guided the club to safety in his first season, 2018-19, finishing 16th after Mark Hughes picked up just one win in the opening 14 games.