Why did Southampton’s pursuit of Jesse Marsch fail? More details emerge

The length of the contract offered by Southampton was not the only reason Jesse Marsch turned down the manager job at St. Mary’s, according to The Athletic.

Marsch quickly emerged as a leading candidate to take charge of the Saints after they sacked Nathan Jones last weekend. It was even claimed earlier this week that the club were set to hire the American.

However, a sudden turn of events saw talks between the two parties break down, seemingly ending Southampton’s pursuit of Marsch. Disagreement over the length of the contract was cited as the reason for the same.

The Hampshire-based club’s initial offer was a six-month deal with an option to extend it further. The proposal did not appeal to Marsch, who was sacked as Leeds United manager earlier this month.

That, though, was not the only reason Southampton’s attempt to hire the 49-year-old failed, as per The Athletic. The manager felt that the timing was not right for him to take the reins at St. Mary’s.

Having only recently left Leeds, there is a feeling that Marsch was not keen on taking charge of another relegation-battling side. His trusted backroom staff Paco Gallardo and Chris Armas staying at Elland Road seemingly added to his dilemma.

However, the relationship between the club and Marsch has not strained despite talks over a deal breaking down. The former RB Leipzig boss was reportedly enticed by Southampton’s infrastructure and their future project.

It is worth noting that Marsch had been on the Saints’ radar for seven years after being impressed with his work at New York Red Bulls. They had even readied an impressive 60-page dossier on him.

Will Southampton have a new manager in time for Chelsea trip?

Southampton were determined to bring in a replacement for Jones in time for their trip to Chelsea this Saturday, February 18. However, having failed in their attempt to hire Marsch, they have tasked first team lead coach Ruben Selles will managing the team this weekend.

The Spaniard is highly regarded by both the club’s hierarchy and the players, as per the report. There is a feeling that he could do a good job in the interim.

The Saints’ pursuit of a new manager could thus depend on how Selles fairs at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Meanwhile, there have been suggestions that the club could bring in an experienced coach to work with him on a longer-term basis.