Southampton in talks to make Nathan Jones new boss as talks begin with Luton over taking over from Ralph Hasenhuttl

SOUTHAMPTON will open talks with Luton Town boss Nathan Jones over replacing Ralph Hasenhuttl.

Championship club Luton have now confirmed that permission has been granted for the Premier League side to speak to the Welsh boss following their game at his former club Stoke City on Tuesday night.

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Nathan Jones is the frontrunner to take over at St Mary’s StadiumCredit: Steve Flynn/News Images

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Ralph Hasenhuttl was dismissed after a poor start to the seasonCredit: PA

In a statement, they said: “Luton Town can confirm that permission has been granted to Southampton to speak to Nathan Jones about their managerial vacancy following the Hatters’ match at Stoke.

“We would like to place on record that the Premier League club have approached the board in the correct manner, for which we are grateful,

“The whole situation is extremely amicable with Southampton and with Nathan.

“We would also like to urge all supporters travelling to Stoke to show him and the team your support on what we hope will be yet another memorable away day.”

The Saints axed Hasenhuttl, 55, with the club in the bottom three after their 4-1 defeat to Newcastle on Sunday.

Fans rounded on the Austrian, who arrived in 2018, with loud boos at full time and chants of: “You’re getting sacked in the morning”.

Assistant Ruben Selles will take charge of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie against Sheffield Wednesday, with the Saints hoping to have

Jones in post for their Premier League visit to Liverpool on Saturday – their final game before the World Cup break.

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Jones, 49, is in his second stint at Luton, having left the club for a rotten spell as Stoke boss before returning to Kenilworth Road in 2020.

The former Brighton defender kept the club up on the final day of the 2019/20 season and guided the Hatters into the Championship play-offs last term, losing to Huddersfield Town in the semi-finals.

Hasenhuttl’s No2 Richard Kitzbichler has also left the club, having been the only coach to survive an overhaul of backroom staff during the summer.