Southampton appoint Russell Martin as new manager on three-year deal
Russell Martin has been appointed as Southampton’s new manager on a three-year deal.
Martin will be immediately tasked with getting the club back into the Premier League via promotion from the Championship next season.
Martin’s Swansea side finished in 10th in the second tier having ended the most recent campaign strongly, unbeaten in nine games with wins over West Brom and Norwich City during that run.
Last month, Southampton announced Ruben Selles will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of June.
Selles was appointed until the end of the season following Nathan Jones’ sacking after just a few months in charge, but could not keep the club in the Premier League.
The Spaniard, who was appointed until the end of the season, said he was keen to get the role on a permanent basis and lead them in the Championship next term, but did not want to work under a new manager.
More to follow…
Soccer Saturday’s Sue Smith looks at where it went wrong for Southampton this season, while Lee Hendrie casts doubt over whether Russell Martin is the right man to lead a south coast revival
Southampton relegated – what went so badly wrong?
Credit – PA/AP Photo/Getty
Southampton are a football club burdened by trouble and strife. It has been that way since their European zenith under Ronald Koeman – an extension of the fine work Mauricio Pochettino had undertaken in the two seasons before his arrival.
Saints are a far cry from the club the Dutchman inherited back in 2014. And some distance from where they themselves expected to be after establishing a brief foothold as one of the Premier League’s top-half teams.
A story that got muddled before reaching its fairytale conclusion.
Indeed, Southampton’s plight is a bit like a ‘once upon a time’, less the happy ending. A series of pinch points without the comfort of resolution.
Read more on how Southampton have found themselves relegated back to the Championship…
Southampton announced boardroom shake-up
Southampton’s owners announced a shake-up at board level in the wake of relegation from the Premier League.
Martin Semmens has left his role as CEO, with Sport Republic – the majority shareholder at St Mary’s – taking full operational control of the club.
Serbian businessman Dragan Solak has been appointed chairman of Sport Republic but Rasmus Ankersen will continue as CEO of the company and Henrik Kraft stays on as club chairman.
Southampton have announced a new direction at boardroom level
A statement read: “These are the first of many changes that we will be making to ensure the success of the club.
“Our incoming director of football, Jason Wilcox, will lead a review of the football department and we will announce the club’s leadership team for next season in the coming weeks.
“By taking these steps now, we are laying the groundwork for our goal of returning Southampton FC to the Premier League as soon as possible.”
