It has to be the biggest secret everyone knows, and that is Russell Martin wants to speak with Southampton regards their pending managerial vacancy at St Mary’s. London based investors Sport Republic who hold an eighty percent share in the club it seems are eager to make him their new manager.

As of Friday evening the Saints had not ‘officially’ spoken to Russell Martin despite a week of rumours linking him to the job on the south coast of England. Currently the club are managed by thirty nine year old Spaniard Rubén Sellés who is not believed to be in favour to carry on his role with two premier league games to go this season. The much talked about meeting in Washington DC scheduled for Thursday didn’t materialise with Russell Martin remaining in Swansea. Anyone who knows his daily schedules would vouch for the fact he has been sighted on several occasions all week.

Initially we were led to believe from a club source that Martin had delayed his departure for the USA, and then later further speculation materialised he was told not to travel. What we can draw from that is that Martin is interested in talking to Southampton and the club are prepared to allow that to happen. Nobody is stupid enough to think that Russell Martin, or more likely his advisor hasn’t already been made aware of the interest from Southampton, and indeed conversely that Swansea City are not also well informed.

With the Swans manager clearly wishing to discuss matters with Southampton there seems little point in maintaining a position with him regards a new contract in west Wales. The Saints can offer him a far bigger proposition, but clearly not the time he has had at Swansea. That has to be a major concern for him as if this appointment goes ahead as planned he will be the fourth Saints manager in less than a year. In fact in just over seven months. That’s hardly a club that will allow any ‘project’ or rebuild, or indeed the time Martin has had at Swansea. The Saints have made it clear they want an immediate return to the premier league and stressed this upon their relegation being confirmed.

A club statement from the Saints read : "Our work begins today to return Southampton Football Club, an inaugural member of the Premier League with a rich history — to where it belongs. We want to reassure our supporters, our partners and our staff that we remain fully committed to achieving long-term success for the club at the top level. We must now reflect on the lessons to be learned from this season and start preparing for the challenges ahead of us in the Championship. Our goal is to return to the Premier League as soon as possible and ensure that we stay there”

Ralph Hasenhüttl was sacked in November with Rubén Sellés taking caretaker charge. Within the same month Nathan Jones left Luton Town take up a permanent role at St Mary’s. He lasted three months before Rubén Sellés was appointed manager in February. He has won only two of his fifteen games in charge signalling the clubs relegation, and with it he is certainly out of favour to continue in his role. That leaves the door open for Martin to be appointed although Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray is also of interest to Southampton. As it stands this morning Russell Martin is out in front for the Saints job, and he will most certainly take his coaching team with him if this is confirmed.

We will take a look later at the players he will also want to join him at St Mary’s with the situation now more likely to happen than not. Now Swansea City once again have a summer of managerial searches, upheaval and more speculation on how the club is being run remotely from the United States. To date since his tweet on the official club account nearly two weeks ago nobody has heard anything from new chairman Andrew Coleman.

In fact the silence is deafening, but that’s no surprise, the clubs CEO Julian Winter hasn’t been seen for three weeks and recruitment specialist Josh Marsh is equally as conspicuous by his absence. One tweet in two weeks is all that Swansea fans have got to go on, and that was hardly complimentary, It’s not exactly a murder mystery, but even a token glance at social media this morning doesn’t bode well for the current majority ownership that’s for sure. The words ‘killing the club’ are cropping up more and more, and for the many thousands who follow the Swans they want answers and reassuring - not deadly silence.

That’s no way to treat the people who have invested personally and financially in Swansea City.

Photographs Open Source

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