x

Hughes In Preliminary Contract Talks With Saints

According to media reports Mark Hughes has already had some initial discussions with the Saints board about extending his stay at St Mary's.

The Daily Mail are reporting that Mark Hughes has already spoken to the club about staying on after the end of this season,given that the same paper was the source of the leak that Saints had been turned away from the Swansea Marriott you have to assume that a member of their sports department is close to someone within the hierarchy at St Mary's.

Although safety is not yet mathematically done and dusted it is understood that Hughes met with the Saints hierarchy last week and indicated he would like to talk formally about staying even if the club were to go down.

Hughes who was part of the Great Escape Saints team of 1999 and his key staff arrived in Southampton with an open mind after being appointed almost two months ago. Since then the 54-year-old has been living in a hotel in the city as he concentrated on trying to turn the club's fortunes around.

Even before the big win in at Swansea, Hughes had decided he was impressed with the structure and potential of the club and would be prepared to talk about staying.

These talks are only at an early stage at the moment and salary details are yet to be discussed although it seems that Hughes will insist on full-time deals for coaches Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki which should not be a problem for Saints.

How accurate this story is, will be discovered in the coming weeks and whether it is merely either the club or Hughes himself jostling to make their position clear.

Certainly the club will be breathing a sigh of relief this week if Saints complete the job on Sunday and after the issues surrounding Mauricio Pellegrino they will be eager to show the supporters that they have learned their lessons and are now acting swiftly and decisively moving forward.

What to read next:

Portsmouth 4 - 0 Swansea City - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Mousinho issues warning to Pompey ahead of visit to Bristol City
Pompey boss John Mousinho has warned his players Bristol City could be out for a quick dose of revenge when the sides meet for the second time inside a month at Ashton Gate.
Lang laps up four-goal Pompey plaudits: There’s no feeling like it
Callum Lang grabbed the headlines and lapped up the plaudits for scoring all four goals in Pompey's impressive 4-1 win over Coventry City at Fratton Park.
Mousinho outlines latest on Pompey's defensive injury worries
Conor Shaughnessy is still some way off a return to Pompey's defence - and this weekend's clash with Coventry looks like it may come too soon for Regan Poole.
Plenty of excitement - Pompey boss relishing fixture list picking up
After a stop-start few weeks in terms of fixtures, Pompey boss John Mousinho is relishing the other extreme - a hectic schedule.
Swansea City 2 - 2 Portsmouth - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Breaking news: Pompey set to play game of football
In an unexpected twist to the season, Pompey are due to play a game of Championship football this weekend.
Cullen on Pompey's transfer strategy: 'It will bring success long-term'
Andy Cullen is comfortable that Pompey's recruitment strategy is working - and says it's important to look at the long-term not just the short-term.
Grateful and happy - how Bishop is feeling after triumphant Pompey return
Grateful to be back in the fold - and for all the support he has been shown by staff and team-mates at Fratton Park.
Blues belief among frustration - Mousinho positive ahead of Pompey-Preston
Pompey are bottom of the Championship and there's a fair bit of doom and gloom among the fan base - but you won't find John Mousinho feeling sorry for himself as he plots to try to secure a home win over Preston North End this weekend.