Pearson Named As New Saints Manager

Southampton have appointed as their new manager Nigel Pearson, whose first game will be tomorrow night at home to Plymouth Argyle.

The former Newcastle assistant manager takes over from the caretaker duo of John Gorman and Jason Dodd after Southampton were knocked out of the FA Cup by Bristol Rovers of League One on Saturday. Saints have lost four of their last five league games, slipping to 18th in the Championship, and their chairman Leon Crouch admitted he needed to bring in a new manager quickly to stop their slide down the table.

"It was clear that the uncertainty of the management situation was having a detrimental effect on the players and so we have decided to bring in a new man," said Crouch. "Pearson is a top quality coach with plenty of experience and good contacts in the game. He is also a disciplinarian with a strong work ethic and I believe he will inject new impetus into our campaign."

Southampton have conceded more goals than any other team in the division, and Crouch said his priority was to employ a manager who could correct the Saints' defensive failings. "Pearson was a top defender in his time and has a good coaching and managerial pedigree at Stoke, West Brom, Newcastle and with the England Under-21 squad," he said. "I believe he is the right man to steady the ship and get us moving up the table once more. He is a winner and he will instil that mentality in the players."

The 44-year-old Pearson has recently been working as assistant to the England Under-21 manager Stuart Pearce, having left Newcastle last month after the arrival of Kevin Keegan. Southampton have confirmed that Gorman and Dodd will remain at the club as part of Pearson's back room staff.