So, at last Southampton FC have finally decided to part company with manager Mauricio Pellegrino and his assistant chums.   His record of just five wins in his 30 Premier League games in charge and just one solitary win in the last 17 speaks for itself.   For us Saints fans the only thing that has really puzzled us is why, oh why, has it taken this long when the writing was on the wall back in October.

Now, of course, on a human level it is always unfortunate when people lose their jobs and despite the fact that MoPo and his mates are doubtless handsomely rewarded for their collective failure, there is still some sympathy for Mauricio who is clearly a decent man who did his best but sadly lacked the kind of drive and initiative that life in the Premier League demands.

So, next please - and attention is now drawn to the next appointment as Saints manager.  I`m not sure the job is as attractive as it was when someone like Ronald Koeman took over - there are just eight games remaining which include fixtures against Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and the likes of Leicester and West Ham.  West Ham is our next away League game and could well be played behind closed doors given the Hammers` misdemeanours last weekend.   Before that we have the FA Cup quarter final on Sunday away at Wigan, so whoever comes in to the Saints hot seat faces a very daunting challenge with not much time to address it.

Mark Hughes (a former Saints player) is tipped for the job along with Marco Silva, late of Watford, also the current Fulham manager whose name escapes me but is largely unpronounceable and then there is another former Saints player in Graham Potter who has impressed since dragging Osterlunds from the fourth tier of Norwegian football to their recent stab at the Europa League.  

In these days of gender equality, however, Saints now have the chance to make a real statement by appointing someone of charm, experience and elegance who will represent the club as a modern, forward looking, outward going, all inclusive outfit - Joanna Lumley would do nicely, as would Darcey Bussell or Joanna Trollope.  Given the other worldliness, the parallel universe, the fantasy land the Premier League has become, I can`t see why not.