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Southampton Know Exact Date Russell Martin Will Be Appointed
Monday, 5th Jun 2023 08:50

A couple of weeks ago we were predicting the imminent arrival of Russell Martin and contemplating that we might actually have two managers employed for the Liverpool game, since then things have calmed down a little, but it is only a delay and Saints know exactly when he will be able to join from Swansea City.

Many Saints supporters were hoping that the failure to appoint Russell Martin ahead of the Liverpool game was ain indication that the deal had hit a snag or perhaps Saints had changed their mind or even found what the Southampton supporters would consider a better replacement in the St Mary's managerial vacancy.

But it became clear that the snag was a small one, it was just about the level of compensation with Martin's contract containing different levels that would be paid depending on whether he left for a Premier League or Championship club.

Saints it seemed were of the opinion that once they had been mathematically relegated they were no longer a Premier League club in all but name and were keen to crack on, but it seems that Swansea are not playing ball on this and are not prepared to play ball.

So when will Martin be able to join Saints at the lower compensation level ? the answer is that we officially leave the Premier League on June 14th, so presumably either that day or the day after on the 15th.

Why Swansea are being so difficult is unclear, media reports from South Wales suggested that they were not that bothered about Martin leaving, they had declined to enter discussions with him about extending his contract beyond next year when it ends.

In many respects they are cutting off their nose to spite their face both from a replacing him point of view but also financially.

The compensation difference between coming now or wating a few weeks is said to be £1 million if he leaves with Saints a Premier League cup and £400k if we are in the Championship.

With Southampton preferring to save £600k and wait a few weeks, you would think that perhaps they would be looking to save a few bob themselves by settling early and saving on Martin and his backroom staff who join him on the South Coast's wages.

Probably not a massive amount but certainly a 6 figure total for the best part of a month's wages.

From a logistical point of view Saints are losing little in planning by Martin not being appointed until June 14th, he himself will need a break before he starts the job and he would arrive at Staplewood to find all the players themselves on holiday.

To put it bluntly there is no need for him to physically be at the club yet, he will be able to start planning with Sport Republic and Jason Wilcox as head of football, in essence he will still be able to do anything other than coaching players and that he won't be able to do until their return around the 26th June anyway.

Even then he won't be able to get down to the real work, he will have last season's squad back and none of them will be going anywhere until 1st July when they get their loyalty bonus paid.

So sadly for those who hope that this appointment won't happen, this isn't good news, likewise those who want to use it as a stick to beat the club around the head with haven't got any evidence either, on the surface it doesn't look good, but underneath Saints are doing the right thing from a financial perspective and it has no affect on the footballing side.


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underweststand added 10:41 - Jun 5
An interesting observation as quite a few of the present squad will have played their last competitive game for Saints by then, and many of the blossoming Academy starlets will be following the same routine they have done since they were 8 year olds, although with the "new look " first team squad.
No-one is sure who will be leaving after the summer, but aside from the future loan outs ..
(of which there will be many), I anticipate upto a dozen of last season's squad will have new club addresses by September 1st. Those young talents we have signed (since Tino Livramento joined ) will also seem " like new singings " as they move a few rungs up the ladder towards first team football, and the new Academy talents won't even be classified as "First team players" as they are all U21 ...and in a few cases still in U18 age grouping.
1

Frank_Xerox added 11:16 - Jun 5
We remain shareholders in the Premier League until its meeting later this month where, alongside Leeds and Leicester, we officially transfer our shares to the promoted clubs. So technically, Swansea are probably right.

I can see that Swansea don't want to help us out when we're Championship rivals, but it seems to be holding them back just as much as it does us. Everyone knows Russell Martin will be working on his plans for Saints next season, just as Swansea will be arranging their replacement who will start doing the same.

No doubt someone at Swansea is patting themselves on the back for being a very clever boy/girl, but there doesn't seem to be any benefit in Swansea arguing the toss over a technicality. It all just seems a bit small-time.
0

DellBoyWally added 12:12 - Jun 5
My worry is that Russell Martin will even be coming to Saints! Let's look back:-
Luton Town were trundling along in upper-mid table in the Championship at the turn of the year. Since then they went on a promotion-winning run with exciting football earning some very notable wins. ALL AFTER NATHAN JONES LEFT!!!!
Pound-for-pound, Nathan Jones' stats in the Championship were better than Russell Martin's!!! Well, maybe not that Swansea were seeing games with 70% possession!!! But they were nowhere near, or even looked like, getting promoted!!!
Now that is worrying.
I wonder what the odds are on Saints having FOUR managers next season??
-2

IWOZTHERE added 15:58 - Jun 5
We have a few players who we should move mountains to keep and are plenty good enough to be wanted in the PL. The two stand-outs are Alcaraz and Sulemana who should already have been approached to enhance their contracts and persuaded to stay. If this is being delayed because of the Martin situation, it's another huge mistake!
2

SanMarco added 22:00 - Jun 5
I am resigned to the fact he is coming and just hope he is better than most of us fear he is.
1

Boris1977 added 09:30 - Jun 6
Sports Republic have got the big calls wrong since they arrived so whatever they do next is crucial but faith in them to do the beneficial thing to progress Saints will be limited.

They need to understand that people i.e human beings are the ultimate factor in the success of football clubs rather than computer programs so they need to get that side of things right and resource it adequately.

Their speciality is running smaller clubs in lower profile leagues so their methods may not be suitable for a club in the top flight in England (as would seem to be the case so far) or for a club aspiring to get there.

We don't know what the future holds but the only indicator we have is the recent past which isn't full of promise. COYRs
0

dirk_doone added 10:11 - Jun 6
That news hangs over us like the sword of Damocles.
1


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