This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Southampton have confirmed on their official website that U23 coach Radhi Jaidi has left the club to go and work in America.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the 44-year-old – who played for the Saints during his playing career – has agreed a deal in principle with USL Championship team Hartford Athletic as part of a 12-month secondment.
Jaidi’s assistant, David Horseman, will lead the U23 side on an interim basis with the help and support of David Hughes, the club’s Head of Player Development.
The former centre-back oversaw two wins, one draw and seven losses in the Premier League 2 for Southampton’s U23 side this season before his departure.
Jaidi made 66 appearances for the Saints as a player, and also won 105 caps for the Tunisia national team.
A further loss of identity for Southampton
Since Gao Jisheng took the reins at St Mary’s, things seem to have become very business-based at the club with few figures knowing much about the footballing side of things.
A club source told The Athletic: “I felt sorry for Ralph (Hasenhuttl) on Friday, stood there in the rain in his cap. There was a guy who is completely isolated. Is there anyone with a football head he can turn to? There’s nobody there now who Ralph can have a chat with the following morning or who’s going to sit down with him and go through things. I don’t know where that’s going to come from.”
Whilst Jaidi wasn’t necessarily sat on the board of directors at St Mary’s overseeing anything business-related, The Athletic do state that the 44-year-old was ‘one of only a handful of academy staff with senior level football experience, or experience of playing for Southampton’.
In truth, results at U23 level were not good enough with the Saints currently sat second from bottom in the Premier League 2, although there is a worrying state of affairs going on at St Mary’s in which not enough people at the club can actually assist Hasenhuttl on the footballing side of things.
Furthermore, what with Jaidi having played for the club for a while, it does add salt to the wounds to see someone who gets the club and has an association with Southampton depart – ensuring a further loss of footballing identity for the south coast outfit.
Let’s just hope his replacement can fill the ever-widening void of footballing identity somewhat.