Southampton - Southampton have hired Mark Hughes as their full-time manager after he kept the club in the Premier League during a three-month interim spell at the end of last season.

Southampton said on Friday that Hughes has signed a three-year deal.

Assistant first team manager Mark Bowen and first team coach Eddie Niedzwiecki have also signed long-term contracts.

“Mark, Eddie and I are thrilled to have signed long-term contracts with the club. It was the only option we considered, having spent the last eight weeks with the club," Hughes told the club's official website.

“Now it is vital that we take the unbelievable support we received from the fans during the last few games into next season. The staff and the players will work hard every day to deliver the success this club deserves, and with everyone pulling together we will achieve our goals."