Saints and Sturrock part company

SOUTHAMPTON boss Paul Sturrock became the first managerial casualty of the new Premiership season yesterday when the club announced he had left by mutual consent.

The 3-2 victory over Blackburn at St Mary’s was thought to have earned Sturrock a stay of execution after reports that the former Scotland striker had just two matches to keep his job.

Saints denied the claims but appear to have already run out of patience with the 47-year-old just over a week into the season, which got off to the worst possible start with a 2-0 surrender at Aston Villa.