Martin convinced by Saints' vision
Russell Martin says it was his conversations with the Southampton Football Club Board and their vision for Saints’ future that convinced him this was the right fit for manager and club alike.
Speaking on his first day at Staplewood, the 37-year-old former Swansea boss revealed there have been many hours of talks plotting how Saints can initiate a swift return to the Premier League.
With two seasons’ managerial experience in the Sky Bet Championship under his belt, and two promotions as a player from the second tier, Martin is determined to build a team that gets the Saints fans excited.
“It’s probably taken a bit longer than anyone would’ve hoped or expected, but I’m just really, really pleased to be here, really grateful that it’s all been done, and really excited to get started properly,” he said. “I’m looking forward to getting to work.
“When I met Jason [Wilcox, Southampton FC Director of Football], Rasmus [Ankersen, CEO of Sport Republic], Henrik [Kraft, Southampton FC Chairman] and Dragan [Šolak, Chairman of Sport Republic], how they spoke about the club, how they spoke about the last 18 months and what had gone on, how much they’d learned from that, the direction they now want to go in terms of the game model and the style of play, and obviously Jason being a huge part of that, coming from Man City.
“A lot of conversations, it was a really thorough process, a lot of hours spent together chatting about football, about developing young people, developing players, about developing something on the pitch that connects everyone – connects the supporters, connects the players, the staff here, and gives everyone something to be proud of; something they look at on the pitch and they look forward to going to games, they feel excited about what they’re going to see on the pitch.”
Martin has been joined at St Mary’s by four members of staff he worked with in south Wales, including assistant manager Matt Gill and goalkeeping coach Dean Thornton, who share in his drive to win promotion, and ultimately be competitive in the Premier League again.
“We all felt excited about this,” Martin continued. When I went back and spoke to the coaching staff who have come with me here, which again I’m really grateful for, it was an easier decision to make.
“We wouldn’t have made that decision for just anywhere – it was the project, it was the people involved in it who we spoke to at length about what’s going to happen here, and understanding that the club’s had a difficult period, last season in particular, and now needs to reset a few things and push forward.
“I’m really excited to get going with that, and ultimately we’re here to win. We feel it gives us the best chance to win a lot and get to the Premier League together, because that will be the best thing, in a way of playing that not just gets us to the Premier League, but hopefully keeps us there as well.”
