EX-Saints coach Stewart Henderson has admitted his “disappointment” after becoming a victim of the club’s backroom restructuring.
Henderson, who served Saints for 20 years in various roles working with the youth and academy teams, the reserve side and even a short spell looking after the first team in between managers, is no longer required at St Mary’s.
The news was broken to him by executive director of the football development and support centre at Staplewood Les Reed.
Henderson’s departure is part of the restructuring programme that is seeing many of the established Saints figures leave to be replaced by new faces in different roles.
Henderson did not wish to criticise the club he loves, but is clearly upset to go after so long there.
The man who helped develop a host of Saints stars – such as Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott, Wayne Bridge, Chris Baird and Adam Lallana – said: “My first reaction is disappointment.
“Les Reed called me and asked me to come to a meeting and within five minutes I knew that I wasn’t going to be involved and that was it. End of story.
“I was disappointed obviously but it happens in football no matter how well you think you have done.
“If somebody comes in and wants their own people around them, then that’s what happens.
The full interview is only in today's Daily Echo.
• To read Stewart Henderson’s memories of 20 years at Saints, including an insight into many of the young players he has worked with, don’t miss this weekend’s copy of The Pink.
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