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.

Steve Wigley (assistant coach) will assume responsibility for the first team while the board considers the most appropriate management structure.

Sturrock is the seventh boss to leave since chairman Rupert Lowe took over the club in 1996 and Saints’ second boss in six months after Gordon Strachan resigned in March.