Selles became Saints’ third permanent manager this season when he was given the full-time job until the end of the campaign following a shock 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge in February. But just one more victory followed the Chelsea result – a 1-0 home win against Leicester City – and Saints have now failed to win any of their last 12 Premier League matches. That run has helped lead Saints to relegation, confirmed a fortnight ago when they were beaten 2-0 by Fulham.
And earlier this week following Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Brighton, Saints confirmed that the Spaniard’s contract would not be renewed this summer meaning he will depart St Mary’s with Russell Martin widely expected to take over.
Southampton statement read: “The club wants to place on record its thanks to Rubén for taking on the managerial position at a difficult time for the club and for giving his all as we attempted to stay in the Premier League.”
Speaking about how the club’s decision was relayed to him,
Ruben Selles said: “After the Brighton game, they (the club’s owners) communicated there was a meeting with me on Monday morning. It was a very simple talk. We had a meeting for an hour and a half and they communicated that my contract would not be renewed. Two months ago, I had a talk with them and they knew my thoughts. It was that, two months ago, they have their own process and they communicate with me on Monday. I did as much as I can. I show that I make the team competitive. We didn’t get the results we wanted. We had an identity. I did my best and that’s the reality. I still think I am ready, but that is not my call. My focus is to try and get us in the best way possible for Sunday against Liverpool.”
It’s no surprise to see Selles uninterested in staying at the club as a coach after the 39 year old repeated on multiple occasions that he feels prepared to be a manager at this stage in his career. Speaking last week ahead of Saints’ 3-1 defeat to Brighton,
Ruben Selles explained: “First question is if I want to stay as a coach if I’m not the manager, absolutely not. If somebody has a doubt or if they don’t know it through me they can read it through the media. That’s very direct and yes I will try to make my career as a manager. Here if it is possible but if it is not I hope it will be another place.”
