Saints could be appointing Mauricio Pellegrino's successor in the next 24 hours accoring to the latest news reports.
Saints are said to be in talks with Mark Hughes and an appointment could be happening within the next 24 hours with the club keen to have a replacement in place to take charge of the team when they travel to Wigan in the FA Cup on Sunday.
Hughes played for Saints for two seasons from August 1998 till March 2000 playing 50(2) times in the Premier League and scoring two goals, his first was possibly his most important, with Saints 3-1 down at home to fellow relegation strugglers Blackburn in April 1999, hughes reduced the deficit on the hour mark and sparked the fightback that saw the 3-3 draw start what would become known as the Great Escape.
Saints fans will hope that if Hughes does return Hughes has enjoyed a he can once again become the catalyst that keeps Saints in the Premier League.
Hughes has enjoyed a long career as a manager, but although his early career blossomed, after leaving Manchester City he started to become known as a long ball merchant and at Stoke put out teams known for their physical attributes rather than ball playing.
Saints fans who have been crying out for entertainment perhaps wont be impressed by that playing style and Saints certainly don't have too many players who would fit the stereotype Hughes type of player.
However Saints appear to be looking for a stop gap manager to bring discipline and organisation to a squad that has been poorly led for the past 7 months or so and from that viewpoint Hughes might just be the man.