Former Premier League midfielder Paul Merson has claimed that Leeds United's decision to sack Jesse Marsch without sorting a replacement out first is 'an absolute joke'.
The American was sacked last week and was heavily linked with the job at bottom-of-the-league Southampton after they sacked Nathan Jones last Sunday - although it now appears that talks have broken down.
But now Merson has said that the hunt for a replacement has gone on far too long, with the Whites having been rejected by top priorities Arne Slot, Carlos Corberan and Andoni Iraola.
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"I thought he [Marsch] was bang unlucky to get the sack at Leeds if I'm being honest," Merson told Sky Sports. "Now they've not managed to get anyone in... I thought they just needed a bit of luck here and there.
"When you watch them again at Manchester United, they're not scoring a lot of goals. I think that's another problem at Southampton. He'll give them energy, he done it at Leeds.
"But I don't know if they've got the legs at Southampton. I think to go into a place at that kind of tempo, I know we're halfway through the season and they should be up to it, but I'm not sure.
"I do like Jesse Marsch and I thought he was bang unlucky to get the sack. To sack him and then fail to get anyone in after is an absolute joke in my opinion."
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