Southampton Set To Lose Key Man To Premier League Giants
Southampton are set to lose their head of youth recruitment, Jack Chapman, twelve months after he joined the club from Swansea City, according to the latest reports.
The Athletic have revealed that Chapman is set to be appointed at Tottenham Hotspur as the London club’s new head of academy recruitment and will start working with the Lilywhites later this summer.
This news comes less than two months after the Saints lost Jason Wilcox, who had been the club’s sporting director for just nine months, as the former Blackburn Rovers and Leeds United star was named technical director at Manchester United.
Furthermore, The Athletic added that Chapman was leaving the St. Mary’s Stadium on good terms and that “figures at the newly-promoted Premier League club crediting him with helping to rebuild the recruitment and pre-academy programmes.”
Southampton have yet to find a permanent successor for Wilcox following the sporting director’s departure to Old Trafford and it is unknown who will replace Chapman in his post once he leaves for Spurs this summer.
Chapman has a plethora of experience in different roles, having worked at clubs such as Cardiff City and Swansea but has also spent time at the New York Red Bulls in America. Additionally, he has primarily worked at a youth level throughout his career – the only exception being his time as Chris Coleman’s technical coach with the Wales national team. At just 34, Chapman is now set to take the next step in his journey in North London before the 2024/25 campaign commences.
Writer’s View
This is another big blow for Southampton as the board have now lost two important cogs in the wheel behind the scenes. While Chapman and Wilcox’s exits won’t directly affect Russell Martin and his players, the hierarchy will certainly be keen to replace them both.
Nevertheless, this is an excellent move for Chapman. While chairman Daniel Levy has many critics in the sport, Spurs are one of the best-run clubs in the Premier League and boast an incredible youth academy. Chapman will now be tasked with finding the next generation of youngsters who could be good enough to reach the first-team.
