Southampton appoints Mark Hughes as manager

Southampton has opted for a short-term fix for a potentially colossal headache.

Staring down the barrel of Premier League relegation, the Saints have gone for experience, appointing veteran gaffer Mark Hughes as the team's new manager. Southampton announced the decision late Wednesday with a statement on its website, adding that Hughes has put pen to paper on a deal until the end of the season.

Hughes replaces Mauricio Pellegrino, who was sacked Tuesday after a dire run of form that saw Southampton fall to 17th in the table, just a point clear of the drop zone.

Related: Southampton fires Mauricio Pellegrino as manager

"It's a challenge I'm excited by. It's a great opportunity to come back to a club I know well, and a club I've got real affinity with, and I couldn't turn that down," Hughes said.

"The objective clearly is to remain in the league and make sure we're a Premier League club next year. That's where this club needs to be, that's where it should be, and that's our intention to make sure it remains there."

Hughes, who's previously managed Manchester City, QPR, Blackburn, Fulham, and most recently Stoke City, also made 60 appearances for the Saints during a career that saw the Wrexham-born forward win the league twice with Manchester United.

Southampton has won just one of its last 17 league matches, a 3-2 victory at fellow relegation fodder West Brom. The Saints next play on Sunday when they visit the DW Stadium to play third-tier Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup.