Portsmouth Academy manager candidate pulls out to join Southampton

The former Blues under-18 coach had applied for the Fratton Park vacancy announced earlier this month.

It is understood Harris attended a screening interview, before being offered the chance of a full interview.

However, he opted to turn down that opportunity to instead accept a role in Southampton’s Academy.

Harris has now been appointed under-18s individual coach at the Premier League club.

Writing on LinkedIn, he said: ‘I feel very grateful and privileged to be ‘back in the game’ starting a new role at Southampton Football club today.

‘I am also immensely grateful to the ‘football family’ who have been amazing to me over the past few months.

‘Every call or message received and each conversation had during that time has had a positive impact on me.

‘I find it especially humbling when everyone has had so many of their own difficulties and challenges to deal with during the pandemic.

‘Thank you to you all. I feel very lucky to have worked with and met so many incredible people during my journey to date and I’m very excited to meet and work with some more on a fantastic project with SFC.’

Harris spent three-and-a-half years coaching in Pompey’s Academy before leaving for Brighton in November 2017.

After serving the Seagulls as professional development phase coach for two years, he moved to the Football Association as national specialist coach in November 2019.

However, he lost his job in November due to restructuring and had been exploring other opportunities since.

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