Wigley back at St Mary's
Steve Wigley today returned to Southampton as director of youth football just two months after he was sacked as head coach.
The 42-year-old former Nottingham Forest and Portsmouth winger will not have a specific team to look after but will help guide academy players through to the senior team.
Wigley was in charge at St Mary’s after Paul Sturrock’s dismissal as manager after just two games this season but was sacked himself following just one win in 14 league games.
His future in the role had been threatened by the fact he did not hold the UEFA Pro Licence badge, a qualification Premiership managers require from a year-long course.
Harry Redknapp, having resigned from rivals Portsmouth, replaced Wigley at St Mary’s within a week but has only gained only 10 points from 13 league games so far.
Saints remain in the bottom three but Redknapp took them into the fifth round of the FA Cup, beating his old club and face Brentford tonight in a replay to decide who will meet holders Manchester United in the quarter-final.
Wigley was offered a job in the Southampton academy when he initially left the club, which he declined.
“The chairman, Rupert Lowe, rang me a couple of weeks ago to offer again and I realised I missed the involvement,” Wigley said.
“We have had a couple of meetings and now I can’t wait to get started again. I was happy enough to step in for a couple of games as caretaker-manager when Gordon Strachan left but I only wanted it to be permanent this season if we were successful.
“As time went on I realised I was more suited to the youth side of the job. I didn’t take up the chairman’s offer to stay on because I wanted to give Harry a clear run. I know him quite well and he’s happy with this arrangement.”
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