Swans boss Russell Martin has admitted he ‘hopes’ the majority ownership of the club has funds and will assist the coaching team at Swansea with some assistance come January. Speaking yesterday ahead of the clubs away fixture against Coventry, Martin was almost asking the question as much as saying nothing had been confirmed to him regards investment.
It seems the main concern for Martin is getting players contracts sorted out before January, and to an extent you can understand why. Both Ryan Manning and Joel Latibeaudiere seem more key to his future plans than some swans fans would think.
You can analyse all the quotes in the world but Russell Martin’s pre match interview yesterday seemed a tad fraught after he disclosed Ryan Manning and Joel Latibeaudiere were not happy to sign the contracts the club had offered them. Speaking to a source this morning they stated that several, maybe three improved contracts had been offered to the two players and the dialogue was pretty much ‘Let’s see what else we can get away from being Swansea players’ We have asked the question. "Is that it ?” And it seems as it stands that the swans are happy to let those last offers sink in.
Ryan Manning joined the swans on the back of ‘running’ down his contract at Queens Park Rangers, Joel Latibeaudiere on the other hand has found an admirer in Russell Martin after being scooped out of Manchester City obscurity on a free transfer in October 2020. Both players have found solace at the swans. Manning most certainly finding his game much improved under Martin, and Latibeaudiere it seems in favour due to his work rate and commitment in training. Playing at numerous levels for England ( and in Steve Cooper’s successful under 17 side ) Joel decided to choose Jamaica this year and made his full international debut.
Steve Cooper, ex swans manager was very much behind the signing of Manning in 2020. At the time he said. "He’s a player we did a lot of due diligence on and one that we identified a while ago. We didn’t think he would be as available as what he might have been at QPR, with him not being there for so long. He was definitely one that we had highlighted. He fitted the profile of player that we want here and then once there was an opportunity to bring him in, we tried to jump on it and that’s what we did. He was a player that was well known to us and we're delighted he's with us. We're looking forward to getting going with him."
Speaking openly on the situation Russell Martin has said. "We're well aware of what we feel we need to improve the performance of the team. We also have a succession plan in case we lose anyone or in case we don't agree contracts and that means we have to deal with a different scenario in January. We're really prepared I feel. Those discussions have been going on for a long time and they'll be going on until January” That’s clear then that despite Martin’s desire to retain the two players the reality of the situation is ‘you can be replaced’
Russell Martin in training this week at Fairwood
The swans boss has the backing of director Jake Silverstein who is looking to take a more prominent view within the club next year. That’s good news for Martin in amongst the teams run of six games without a win, if that form continues he will need some allies across the pond. In October Silverstein referenced Russell Martin. "We could not be prouder of how the team has been performing. It is brilliant. Russell is a thoughtful person, he is a football visionary and an exceptional leader and developer of these young men as human beings. I believed that from the moment we met him, and the growth I have seen in the players as I have got to know them and developed relationships with them as human beings is tremendous.I could not be prouder, and we are seeing that come through on the pitch in the courage, the bravery and the resilience”
Silverstein has also referred to the competitive financial structure of the club and its ability to compete in the championship. To that extent the swans do that but it’s generally a frustrating journey each week. To be sustainable in the championship with an opportunity to be promoted seems to be the mantra for 2023. So we won’t see cash being loosely thrown in to the air.
With that in mind it feels as if ( in Latibeaudiere’s case at least ) the final offer ‘may’ have been made and he is now seeking out something better through his agent at Wasserman. In his defence Latibeaudiere’s contract is pretty small by championship standards, around nine thousand pounds a month so he is looking to double that and that’s what we believe has been offered plus incentives. Manning is also represented by Wasserman but is in a different category completely. His current salary sits in around nine thousand pounds a week and Manning wants far more than that, to that end he has been offered improved terms but also with incentives. With a salary of around thirty eight thousand pounds a month he is within the preferred category for a more senior player, but any more on offer won’t be a huge rise. So it seems both players are now seeing what their agents come back with, and Russell Martin has already indicated his preferred replacements to Jake Silverstein from a very recent number of meetings in Swansea.
More on this as it progresses. Swansea City Friday night team news later.