Southampton FC Sack Manager Puel

15 June 2017, 10:08 | Updated: 15 June 2017, 10:09

Southampton have sacked manager Claude Puel - after one season in charge.

They finished eighth and made the final of the League Cup, but won only one of their last eight games and fans were unhappy with the style of football.

Saints say the search for a new boss is already underway.

Frenchman Puel, 55, took over at St Mary's last summer and guided Saints to the EFL Cup final, where they lost to Manchester United, and an eighth-placed finish in last season's Premier League.

A statement from Southampton FC on Wednesday evening said the club had ``terminated the contract of Claude Puel with immediate effect''.

It continued: ``Everyone at Southampton would like to express our thanks to Claude for his hard work and commitment this year.

``We wish Claude well for the future.

``The search for a new management team is under way. We are confident that we will find the right fit in line with the long-term vision of the club.''

Former Borussia Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel, recent Alaves coach Mauricio Pellegrino and Reading's Jaap Stam have been linked with the job.

Despite the positivity around Southampton's Wembley appearance in February, they lost 16 league games to slip to eighth after Ronald Koeman had delivered sixth place before moving to Everton.

The south-coast side also suffered early exits from both the FA Cup and the Europa League.

Come the final game of the season, a 1-0 home defeat to Stoke, Saints fans appeared to have turned against Puel, chanting ``You don't know what you're doing'' and booing the Castres-born tactician.

Rumours of player unrest have continued into the summer and, on the day which saw the 2017-18 fixtures released, Puel - a Ligue 1 winner with Monaco in 2000 - has departed Hampshire just 12 months into a three-year contract.