Ex-Portsmouth physio Neil Sillett quits Premier League Brighton for Cyprus 'second-chance saloon'

The former Aston Villa scout quit as Pompey Academy’s head of recruitment at the end of last year to take up a role at the Amex Stadium.

Appointed as the Premier League club’s under-18 national scout co-ordinator, he was challenged to fulfil a project which excited him.

However, following the coronavirus outbreak and the downturn in footballing finances, those plans have been delayed.

That prompted Sillett to push for his Brighton departure in favour of this month returning to the Bentley Sports Group, where he has continued to be a director.

His vision involves creating a football centre in Cyprus, offering promising players the opportunity to rebuild their careers under guidance from ex-Pompey defenders Adrian Whitbread and Kit Symons and former Nigerian international Yakubu.

And Sillett is relishing getting his new project up and running.

He told The News: ‘This is a second-chance saloon.

‘When kids are released they go home, perhaps sit there and play a guitar, and say it didn’t work out for me because someone didn’t like me.

‘Well, come and stay with us for a few months.

‘Even if you don't go back into a pro club, we can recommend something else. Or just feel better about yourself. Don’t sit at home doing nothing, come out, get fit, get mentally in a better place.

‘Come and train with us for 3-6 months or a year and we will give you a profile passport which will be legitimate.

‘It will be honest, we’ll analyse your strengths, your weakness, your height, your weight, your speed and your stats.

‘You will be coached by Adrian Whitbread, Kit Symons and Yakubu, we are on the doorsteps of Champions League clubs in Cyprus and Greece. If it’s not for your pro career, we have the USA option for scholarships through our Florida centre.

‘We are pretty well qualified to tell you what level you should be at. There’s a level for everyone – be it Sunday League or Premier League – and we can probably give you a good idea where you should be.’

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Sillett departed Brighton in October, following just 10 months with the Premier League club.

But he is adamant his exit was on friendly terms – and wishes the club the best.

He added: ‘At Brighton, the project will happen in time, but goodness knows when.

‘I just felt this was a good time to go back into working with the Bentley Sports Group and build other projects I wanted to pursue.

‘I was national scout co-ordinator for Brighton’s Academy, with a remit to build an increased presence in London, including recruiting scouts on salaries and building in the south of England.

‘Their aim was to be a top-10 academy in five year’s time. That appealed to me and that's why I made the jump.

‘I had the budget at that time to sign boys from category two or three academies, which was appealing, rather than trying to get the rejects from clubs.

‘With coronavirus, that project has now been delayed and I just felt the timing was right to leave.

‘Dave Wright (Brighton’s Academy recruitment manager) is a really good professional, he will eventually get that section up and running because he has the passion. He will get there and I think they will do very well.

‘Brighton were disappointed, but I think they understood that they couldn't give me what they wanted – and what I had gone there for.

‘It’ no-one’s fault. In fact, while I was there, it occurred to me “This isn’t going to happen”. What I signed up to do and what they wanted me to do just wasn’t possible at present.’

MORE: Yakubu – We were so poor I played football barefooted in Nigeria – now it’s time to help others achieve dreams

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