Career
As a player Merrington appeared in midfield for Burnley, playing 98 league games (1 goal) including a spell as captain. He later played for Bristol City before retiring and going into coaching. Merrington was a brief caretaker manager for Sunderland following the departure of Jimmy Adamson in 1978, and in 1980 he again took over from Adamson as caretaker manager (for 1 game only) at Leeds United.
He took charge of Southampton for the 1995-1996 season and was Premiership Manager of the Month in April 1996, his only full season in management.
Despite securing Southampton"s top flight status on goal difference, he was dismissed on 14 June 1996 and succeeded by Graeme Souness. A year later he returned to the club as a coach under next manager Dave Jones but left again three years later after Jones was succeeded by Glenn Hoddle.
His next stop was a brief spell working as Walsall"s first-team coach alongside manager Colin Lee in 2002. Merrington currently works for British Broadcasting Corporation Radio Solent, commentating on Southampton matches.
