Some of the media outlets seem certain that Saints will appoint Mark Hughes as the next manager of the club within the next 48 hours.
He is not the first choice of many Saints supporters but many national news agencies are suggesting that Mark Hughes will be appointed as the successor to Mauricio Pellegrino and it will be dont within the next 48 hours.
The suggestion is that although the defeat at Newcastle was the straw that broke the camel's back for the Saints board regarding Pellegrino, that they havebeen actively sounding out possible alternatives for the past few weeks and are likely to hit the ground running after last night's announcement.
Mark Hughes name keeps coming up, although could this be because Saints have been speaking to him or just agents trying to stir up the market is unclear.
The big question though will be whether this is a long term appointment made or merely a short term contract to the end of the season.
Short term deals are becoming more common place these days and offer both manager and club the chance to back out at the end of the season.
So although Hughes would not be a universally popular long term appointment amongst fans, a short term deal would be a different matter.
Saints need a firefighter at present, someone who knows the Premier League and what is required and Hughes would fit that bill.
Also that would buy Saints time to find a manager who they would be happy with long term, although Pelelgrino has been a disaster the club would prefer to get a manager who would be in for the long term and not just as a stepping stone, that doesn't look likely now but would be easier to implement in the summer.
Certainly with noone within the club at the moment with any real coaching experience in the Premier League or for that matter in adult professional football, getting someone in with experience is a priority and would be preferable before we play Wigan