Academy duo to depart the club
Southampton Football Club can confirm that Assistant Academy Director Tash Patel, and Under-21s Head Coach Adam Asghar, will depart the club to take up new opportunities elsewhere.
Since returning to Staplewood in January 2023 for her second spell within the club's Academy, Patel now heads to America for her second role in the USA to work with US Soccer as their Director of Sporting Analytics.
Upon her departure, Patel stated, “Southampton have provided me with some of my closest friends, best memories and greatest development, and the club will always hold a special place in my heart.
"The journey the Academy is now on is very exciting, and I'm proud to have helped rebuild the club’s reputation as one of the very best in player and staff development as Assistant Academy Director over the past 18 months.
"I’d like to take this chance to thank all the staff, players and parents for all their support, and to Andy Goldie for giving me the opportunity to further develop and lead in different facets of the Academy."
Tash Patel will return to the USA.
Also departing the club is Under-21s Head Coach Asghar, who's eight-month spell at the club comes to an end.
The Scotsman will take up a new role closer to home after overseeing an improved second half of the Premier League 2 campaign, but narrowly missing out on the post-season play-offs.
“It has been an extremely difficult decision to leave Southampton at this time." Asghar explained, "I've loved my time at the club and I'm extremely grateful to Andy, Tash and Ricky for the opportunity to have led the Under 21 squad this season.
"I'd like to thank the fantastic coaching staff in the Academy for their support, and all the talented players I've worked with for their efforts. I look forward to seeing the continued progress of our young players in to the first team under Russell Martin and his staff.”
On the departures, Academy Director Andy Goldie commented:
"We pride ourselves in not only recruiting and developing young players, but also ambitious and high-quality staff, so we're proud to see both Tash and Adam move onto the next stages of their careers.
"Tash has been a fantastic support for me during my first season in post, she has helped steer the Academy through a period of transition and progress and ultimately moves on with it in a far greater place.
"It's an incredible and well-deserved opportunity for her, which I have no doubt she'll flourish in as she has done for Southampton Football Club during both spells here.
"Adam is a young coach with an exciting future ahead of him, but he's been presented with an opportunity better suited to his personal circumstances and we are happy to support him in getting him closer to his family.
"Again, we thank him for his efforts during his time at the club and wish him all the best for the future."
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