Former Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch is set for a quick return to management as it appears he is on the verge of agreeing a deal with Southampton.
Marsch was sacked by the Whites last Monday after a dire run of form which saw Leeds go without a Premier League win since 5 November.
The American is “keen on a return to management” and “is excited by the Southampton project”, Sky Sports News report.
One thing is certain, Marsch faces a tough task in taking Southampton’s top job. The Saints currently sit bottom of the Premier League table, four points from safety.
If a deal with the 49-year-old were to be agreed he would become Southampton’s third manager so far this term following on from Ralph Hasenhuttl and Nathan Jones.
It is currently unknown the length of the contract Marsch is being offered, but the American is reportedly open to a short-term deal.
Were talks to progress positively at this stage, Marsch may be in the dugout for as soon as Southampton’s trip to Chelsea this weekend.
It would also put him in position to face his former employers when the Saints travel to Elland Road to face Leeds on Saturday 25 February.
A bizarre decision
Being realistic, Southampton appointing Marsch makes little sense. The American was able to save Leeds from Premier League relegation last season, but he inherited a team who were sitting in 16th – not at the foot of the table.
Perhaps the driving factor behind the Saints’ interest in Marsch is the fact that he is familiar with the style of football played by the Red Bull stable of clubs, much like Hasenhuttl. However, the simple fact is that this approach did not work during his spell in Yorkshire.
If I was a Southampton fan, I would be worried. But Leeds fans will no doubt be filled with excitement at the prospect of Marsch returning to the Elland Road dugout in the near future.
His reception by the home crowd may be a slightly frosty one.
