Austin unleashes scathing attack on Hasenhuttl after Southampton sack

Charlie Austin has accused Ralph Hasenhuttl of being "quick to throw the team under the bus" in the wake of his Southampton exit.

Hassenhuttl was sacked by the Saints on Monday following an emphatic 4-1 home defeat to Premier League rivals Newcastle 24 hours earlier. Southampton are in the relegation zone and among the favourites to complete a return to the Championship come May.

Austin, 33, was on the books at Southampton when Hasenhuttl was appointed in December 2018. The Englishman left St Mary's six months later to join West Brom and was happy to lift the lid on his short-lived relationship with Hasenhuttl.

"It was all about him," Austin told talkSPORT on Tuesday. "He was quick to throw the team under the bus when the team was doing poorly. But when they were doing great, it was all about him.

"When you're being asked if you can get out of a blip and you say, 'No' - I don't think any manager can say that. You need to galvanise your team. Even if you don't believe it, you need to say you can turn it around."

Hasenhuttl experienced an indifferent time at Southampton. He inherited a team that was 18th in the table and guided them to safety before achieving an impressive 11th-placed finish the following season. He also kept them up in the next two campaigns.

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Yet Southampton fans will struggle to forget the 9-0 defeats to Leicester and Manchester United. They've also been in horrendous form since March, winning just four of their last 26 Premier League fixtures. As such, Austin believes Hasenhuttl's record is poor.

The veteran striker added: "He was been there for four years and his highest point tally was 52 points, the rest it's been low forties.

"Have they finished in the top-half since he's been there? No. Can you say it's a success? You would have to say no - but because he's kept [them] in the Premier League, you could say yes. It depends on what the ambitions of the football club are."

Hasenhuttl is the fifth Premier League manager to be sacked this season after Scott Parker, Bruno Lage, Thomas Tuchel and Steven Gerrard. The favourite to succeed him is Luton boss Nathan Jones, who guided the Hatters to the Championship play-offs last season.

First-team coach Ruben Selles will be in charge of Southampton's EFL Cup tie against Sheffield Wednesday at St Mary's on Wednesday. They have one more Premier League fixture to play against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday before the World Cup starts.

"[Hasenhuttl] departs having made a significant contribution to the club, overseeing some memorable results and also playing a key role in the development of our club infrastructure, identity and playing squad," read Southampton's statement.

"However, we now believe it is an appropriate time to make a change. Everyone involved with the club would like to express their sincere thanks to Ralph for all of his efforts, as well as the unwavering commitment he has shown throughout his time as manager."

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