Ruben Selles will be leaving Southampton FC at the end of of the season, although it seems that he will be in charge of the team for the final game of the season against Liverpool, which does seem rather strange
It was not a shock when Saints announced on Wednesday lunchtime that Ruben Selles contract would not be renewed when it expires.
A short and abrupt statement from the club read:
"Southampton Football Club can confirm that it has held conversations with Men’s First Team Manager, Rubén Sellés, and decided that his contract will not be renewed when it expires at the end of the season.
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.
Rubén will take charge of the team for the final game against Liverpool on Sunday at St Mary’s. We wish him all the best for his future career. "
This seems a very vague statement though, it doesn't really clarify whether Selles is leaving the club altogether or stepping back into a coaching role, from the Spaniard's recent comments it would seem that he will be leaving all together and that it is his coaching contract that is also not being renewed as well as his short term contract to manage the first team, if indeed there was a separate agreement.
It is also strange the timing of the announcement, either do it after the game against Liverpool or if you are doing it now make it a clean break and don't put him through what will be a rough ride for him in front of the Saints fans.
It means that he will be making a very undignified exit and whatever your feeling about him as a manager, he does not deserve to take all the blame for this season's woes.
It would be far better to let him leave before Sunday, quietly and without having to step out into the bear pit of St Mary's, this will have no positive outcomes at all. How can he pick a team and motivate the players with all knowing that he is gone and so will be some of them.
My fear is that by the weekend Saints will have announced that Russell Martin is the new manager of the club and my bigger fear is that Selles will be allowed to step down to let Martin take change.
That will probably rile up the fans even more than letting Selles take charge, it will create a toxic atmosphere around the club that will continue through the summer.
It would be far better to get this season out of the way and then after a decent wait appoint Russell Martin and that will give the fans time to come to terms with the appointment and get used to it and perhaps a good pre season would take the sting out of the tail from the fans anger.
Seeing Martin walk out of the tunnel on Sunday and take his place on the Saints bench will have no benefit to anyone, certainly not Martin himself who will be the subject of abuse.