Jesse Marsch turns down Leicester job after disagreeing Championship strategy
American was close to agreement but took decision after a conversation with his coaching staff on Saturday evening
BySam Wallace, CHIEF FOOTBALL WRITER and
John Percy
Jesse Marsch has withdrawn from the recruitment process to appoint the next Leicester City manager, having
been the frontrunner to take over the relegation-threatened club.
The American coach, sacked by Leeds United in February, was close to agreement and had been due at the Leicester training ground on Saturday. He watched Saturday’s defeat to Bournemouth and took the decision after a conversation with his coaching staff that night. The club were told this morning.
Marsch is understood to feel that the club would need a different approach in the Championship next season if they were to be relegated – as well as a different profile of player to the one that he is accustomed to recruiting. The club have one point from their past eight matches and play Manchester City on Saturday. After then they could easily be six points from safety with seven games to play.
The defeat to fellow relegation candidates Bournemouth brought additional problems. There was an injury to Harvey Barnes, identified as a potential hamstring problem in the aftermath of the game by caretaker manager Adam Sadler. Youri Tielemans, a free agent come July, has not played since an ankle injury in the defeat to Arsenal at the end of February.
Marsch’s experience at Leeds has also shaped his thinking and he was lukewarm at taking the Southampton job after that became available following the sacking of Nathan Jones. The decision will have come as a surprise to Leicester who interviewed a number of candidates last week. It
means the club will now have to return to one of the others who met with the club over a series of preliminary interviews in London on Thursday.
One possible option is former Aston Villa manager Dean Smith, most recently at Norwich City, who could yet be appointed – perhaps with former Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare as his assistant. Also mentioned in the process have been Rafael Benitez, and Martin O’Neill, one of the greatest coaches in the club’s history.
means the club will now have to return to one of the others who met with the club over a series of preliminary interviews in London on Thursday.
One possible option is former Aston Villa manager Dean Smith, most recently at Norwich City, who could yet be appointed – perhaps with former Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare as his assistant. Also mentioned in the process have been Rafael Benitez, and Martin O’Neill, one of the greatest coaches in the club’s history.
