Southampton and Jesse Marsch talks break down with 39 year old a serious contender instead

Southampton and Jesse Marsch talks break down with 39 year old Ruben Selles said to be a serious contender for the role instead.

After the parties failed to reach an agreement on their contract, meaning Jesse Marsch won’t be Southampton’s next manager.

The 29 year old American coach was fired as Leeds United manager nine days ago and had been the frontrunner for Nathan Jones’s job at St Mary’s.

The Saints will have to continue their search after negotiations fell apart because they were not interested in a long-term deal given their current circumstances.

They are currently at the bottom of Premier League table, four points behind Leeds (17th).

Ruben Selles, the caretaker manager, will continue to be in charge of Saturday’s trip at Chelsea. The club sees him as a viable long term option.

Talks between Southampton and Jesse Marsch have broken down. Club not keen on a long-term contract given current situation. Ruben Selles to take Chelsea game and club still see him as a viable longer-term option, potentially with a more experienced coach. Story to follow…

— Jeremy Wilson (@JWTelegraph) February 15, 2023

Jones was fired last Sunday after a disastrous 14-game, 95-day stint on the south coast which saw the club lose nine of his matches in all competitions.

Marsch had been considered a good fit for Southampton because he has experience of a Premier League relegation battle, having kept Leeds up last season.

He coached RB Leipzig, as well as working at Red Bull Salzburg and New York Red Bulls.

Marsch was unable to reach an agreement with Southampton to takeover and the search for his successor continues, with Michael Skubala as caretaker.

He will continue to travel to Everton for this weekend’s crucial trip.

Selles is relatively unknown to many unless you’re a Southampton fan.

The Spanish coach is a veteran in the coaching industry, but began his career as a coach for Aris Thessaloniki’s youth.

Selles was then an assistant coach for two managers at Shinnik Yaroslav, in Russia, and four managers back at Aris. He also worked under four managers at Neftchi Baku, in Azerbaijan.

Selles was offered a role as an analyst with the Norwegian outfit Stromsgodset, but in 2015 he returned to Azerbaijan to join Qarabag.

Selles was an assistant manager at Aarhus before taking over Valencia’s Under-18’s. He then moved to Copenhagen to help Jess Thorup.

Selles moved to Southampton last summer, and has had two caretaker stints in charge.

Perhaps two spells in Danish soccer put him on Rasmus Ankersen’s radar, the current director at Southampton football.

Selles, a young coach with a growing reputation, has been overlooked twice by Southampton. However, there is no doubt that he will be able to manage other teams on the South Coast.

🚨 Ruben Selles will charge of the side against Chelsea and the club still see him as a viable longer-term option, potentially with a more experienced coach. #saintsfc
[Telegraph] pic.twitter.com/PdDXc0AyjM

— Southampton FC Updates (@TheSaintCentre) February 15, 2023

BETVICTOR ODDS

Ruben Selles – 2/1
Steve Bruce – 4/1
Jesse Marsch – 4/1
Steven Gerrard – 5/1
Marcelo Gallardo – 12/1
Sam Allardyce – 12/1

This is what social media users said as Southampton and Jesse Marsch talks break down with 39 year old Ruben Selles a serious contender instead…

@knight_fury29: Relegation confirmed

@mattn1827: This is so messed up on all fronts. No disrespect to Selles but that plan is literally accepting relegation when you had a candidate who could’ve helped the team to safety or even is worse case been an ideal candidate for a rebuild. I just don’t understand. Horrific news.

@reckoner29: Think Southampton may have dodged a bullet there… 😂

@patconnor1991: Imagine having the bottle to ask for a long term contract having been sacked a fortnight earlier for not being very good

@alfklly: Nuts, no surprise a manager who’s willing to take the Saints job now rather than the summer (like Leeds) would want assurances on comp if they fail to stay down. Always going to be costly financially when you’re on your 3rd of the season

@marz194_2: It was already bleak. I think it’s just got worse. Bar transfers, the board’s decisions look shockingly inept. Relegation looks almost guaranteed, and I’m not confident in the remainder of the season. Just hope it won’t be as miserable as I think it will😥 #SaintsFC

@markydh: It’s not just our board that don’t want to give people long term contracts. It’s a perfectly legitimate position to take #lufc

@Jon_Foz_: Relieved and I’m not even a Saints fan. What on earth is he even in the running for??

@CarlyKin: As if our situation couldn’t get any more embarrassing 🤦‍♀️ seriously SR you messed up with the NJ appointment and now this! Just get the deal done – we don’t have time to mess about! #saintsfc #jessemarsch

@Leedsfan75: I wouldn’t actually wish Marsch on anyone unless there were fierce rivals in a relegation battle. Soton is dodging a big bullet if they pull out!

@waity_90: Unless saint’s pull something out the bag, they’ll be doing a Leeds till end of season with an interim in charge #lufc

@saintspins: Wonder what’s happened to go from this seeming like a done deal to being off the table in less than 24 hours.

@WALMOT_: Good for us in regards we didn’t need him coming to to Elland Road and getting 3 points. Bad for us in regards he probably does terrible and takes them down anyway 😂

@newington13: You’re joking? 😭 #SaintsFC

@_Baggings: well that took a turn….

@JoshR1988: This is a Very odd decision from Sport republic. Why wouldn’t you want a manager who is committed to a rebuild in the championship if we were to get relegated.

@a11en222: If we end up with Lampard or Gerrard I’m fully done with this club. Selles is an even worse choice and the fact theirs any talk of giving an assistant whose done nothing to improve us is being considered says how much of a state this clubs in #SaintsFC

@MikeyTopp: Shite….. Where do we go from here? Surely Selles gets the job till the end of the season, see what league we end up in and then get someone then depending on the task in hand. Not ideal but better than Rooney, Gerrard or Lampard now 😬😬 #saintsfc

@sj196704: I have seen some incompetent boards over the years but SR are in a class of their own give jones a long contract keep him on far too long sack him meet with Marsch set it up like a done deal and make a balls up of that then think Selles will do #saintsfc

@FlynnJonas2: To think 14 months ago we were genuinely buzzing when SR took control of our club!!! Sorry but it’s been nothing but a shambles since they’ve been here!!! They’ve thrown £160+mil on the team with no real plan whatsoever, very worrying indeed #SaintsFC