Nathan Jones has left Championship side Luton FC to take up the role of Southampton FC manager in the English Premier League. He has been given a three-and-a-half-year contract at the helm of the club. Hasenhuttl, who was in charge for nearly four years, was sacked on Monday after Sunday's 4-1 defeat by Newcastle. "I'm really proud to be given this opportunity," said Jones. "I know a lot about the club from back in the days of The Dell, to coming here to St Mary's, and it's a wonderful football club," Jones added. The new boss watched in the stands as the Saints beat Sheffield Wednesday on penalties in the Carabao Cup third round on Wednesday. His first game in charge will be away at Liverpool on Saturday.

The former boss was dismissed after a run of one win in nine matches, with Southampton 18th in the Premier League. Jones who had signed a five-year deal with Luton ends his second spell at the club leaving them ninth on the Championship table. First-team coaches Chris Cohen and Alan Sheehan will join him at Southampton. "A lot of my family are Southampton fans, which doesn't half help. I wanted to manage in the Premier League, I've dreamt of that since I became a coach, but this club in particular - because of how it's run, because of the structure, because of how they look deeper than just results - really appeals to me," said Jones. 

Jones led Luton to last season's playoffs, where they were beaten by Huddersfield Town in the semi-finals. He took over the managerial reins at Luton in January 2016 when they were struggling at the bottom of League Two. He guided them to promotion in 2018 and the Hatters were second in League One in January 2019 when Jones left for an ill-fated spell in charge of Stoke City. He moved back to Luton in May 2020, speaking of his "regret" at leaving before resurrecting his career during a successful second spell with Luton. Luton's chief recruitment officer Mick Harford will take interim charge for the Championship side's game on Saturday against Rotherham. Gary Sweet, chief executive of Luton, thanked Jones for his stellar services at the club.  “He has given us some fantastic memories and a team to be constantly proud of,” He said.