Blackwell dismisses Saints link
Kevin Blackwell has assured Leeds fans he is committed to the cause despite the prospect of again being linked with the vacant manager’s job at Southampton.
Paul Sturrock’s departure from Southampton by what the club have described as “mutual consent” after just five and a half months at the St Mary’s Stadium has left the Saints looking for their sixth manager in six years.
Blackwell was surprisingly linked with the position in February, at a time when he was first-team coach with Leeds, after Gordon Strachan chose to leave.
More prominent names have again already been proposed on this occasion, including Glenn Hoddle, who quit Southampton in such acrimonious circumstances for Tottenham in 2001, and former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier.
Steve Wigley has been handed the role on a caretaker basis, and is understood to be the favourite, however, Blackwell’s reputation as a coach could again prompt speculation.
But he said: “I’m very happy at Leeds, and I’ve only just started – six weeks into the job.
“But I’m just sad for Paul Sturrock. He is a man I know who is passionate about the game of football, and I feel for him at the moment.
“It’s not nice for anybody to end up losing their job for one reason or another, and to be fair, you look at Paul’s record and it’s not a bad one. He’s not done anything wrong.
“But for me, I’ve a game against Huddersfield tomorrow in the Carling Cup and that’s all I’m worried about.”
