, Southend United end talks with former Celtic and Barcelona striker over managerial post

Southend United end talks with former Celtic and Barcelona striker over managerial post

Southend United have confirmed with a club statement on their official club website that they will no longer be holding talks with Henrik Larsson over the vacant managerial post at Roots Hall.

Over the course of the past few weeks, Southend United have been conducting their search for a new manager having let go Kevin Bond after a poor start to the League One season. Recently, they have been in talks with former Celtic and Barcelona striker Henrik Larsson over the vacant role, along with Johan Mjallby and Tommy Johnson who would act as assistant manager and head of recruitment respectively.

Now, the club have confirmed that the deal will no longer take place, with Johnson will not be joining the club after accepting a different offer, prompting the club to pull out of talks completely. The statement posted on Tuesday afternoon reads:

“Terms were agreed with all parties and arrangements were confirmed for Henrik, Johan and their agent to fly over this evening with a view to attending at Roots Hall, along with Tommy Johnson, to sign the contracts tomorrow.

“Within the last hour Tommy Johnson advised Henrik, and subsequently me, that he had decided not to join Henrik & Johan having today accepted an alternative offer. Henrik, Johan and Tommy for both my part, and Henrik’s too, came as a team.

“It was critical to the Club that we had an individual, as part of that threesome, who was not only well known to Henrik and Johan but completely familiar with the English Leagues. Including all the players from not just League One but The Championship and League Two also.

“As a consequence of Tommy Johnson withdrawing, all discussions with Henrik Larsson and Johan Mjallby have, unfortunately, come to an end too. I have said previous that a week is a long time in Politics and, thanks to Tommy Johnson, 24 hours has proved a very long time in football.

“The Club had identified other individuals in the run-up to agreeing terms with Henrik Larsson & his proposed colleagues. Those parties remain on our radar and we will resurrect those discussions with every intention of appointing a permanent manager as soon as practically possible.”

The likes of former Southend defender Adam Barrett and ex-Macclesfield boss Sol Campbell are among those that have been linked with the role, so it will be interesting to see who the Shrimpers opt to bring in to try and turn around their season.

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