Four new faces join Martin’s staff
Southampton Football Club is pleased to confirm its new-look first-team backroom staff at the start of the club’s pre-season programme.
Men’s First Team Manager Russell Martin will be joined by Matt Gill as his Assistant Manager, continuing the role he held whilst the pair were at Swansea.
The 42-year-old enjoyed a 17-year playing career spanning more than 500 appearances for clubs including Peterborough, Exeter and Bristol Rovers, as well as Norwich, where he and Martin were teammates between 2009 and 2011.
Elsewhere, Dean Thornton joins as Saints’ new Goalkeeping Coach, having known Martin since the pair were teenagers at the start of their playing careers at Wycombe.
The 35-year-old has worked with the manager in both of their previous roles at MK Dons and Swansea, having spent nine years as Head of Academy Goalkeeping at QPR after his playing career ended prematurely.
Also joining Martin’s staff is Rhys Owen, as First Team Sports Scientist, and Ben Parker, as First Team Tactics & Insights Analyst, who formerly held similar positions at Swansea.
Carl Martin remains in his role as First Team Coach, while Dave Horseman and Louis Carey, who were both added to the first-team staff last season, have now returned to their previous positions in the Academy.
As part of this restructure, Head of Sports Science Alek Gross and Goalkeeping Coach Andrew Sparkes have left their roles. The club would like to thank them for their service and wish them all the best for the future.
Photo by Matt Watson. Left to right: Ben Parker, Carl Martin, Dean Thornton, Russell Martin, Matt Gill, Rhys Owen.
