 |  The players wanted Dennis Wise and myself to take over but the chairman decided not |
Southampton caretaker boss Dave Bassett will be leaving the club when George Burley takes over as head coach. Bassett and Dennis Wise took temporary charge after Harry Redknapp left, but the Saints have chosen a management team of Burley and Sir Clive Woodward.
Bassett told BBC Sport: "The chairman spoke to me to say I hadn't got the job. He's going to talk to me but I won't be figuring in the plans."
Wise will remain with the club in a playing capacity.
Burley was unveiled on Friday as the head coach, with Woodward moving up to become director of football.
Bassett made it clear to chairman Rupert Lowe he was interested in taking on a role alongside Wise.
But he said former England rugby coach Woodward, who only joined the club in the summer as performance director, was always going to get that role.
"He has been looking for that since day one so that's not at all a surprise," said Bassett.
"When Harry was there he couldn't do it but once Harry went it was always going to be that way.
"No manager was going to get the job unless he agreed to work with Clive Woodward.
"George will be in and Clive will be doing what he wants and I'll be surplus to requirements. That's the way football is, it's one of those businesses.
"The chairman knew I was interested in the job and so was Dennis. He obviously decided to come up with George.
"George is a good man. I like him - he did well at Ipswich, Derby and Hearts. He's a good football man but it's going to be a difficult job as all of them are."
| I enjoy being in football and if something comes up that suits me I'll have a go |
Despite being overlooked, Bassett says he will leave the club on good terms and will be looking to get back into the game when the right opportunity comes up.
"I've enjoyed it there," he added. "It's a good club, it's got good facilities and I enjoyed a good working relationship with the players.
"The players wanted Dennis and myself to take over but the chairman decided not - that's his prerogative. Life goes on.
"It's certainly been an experience and a rollercoaster ride as they say.
"I enjoy being in football and if something comes up that suits me I'll have a go, if not you just have to get on and see what happens.
"There's a couple of little things that might materialise and develop for me."
MMIX
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