Russell Martin is expected to be appointed as Southampton’s new manager next week.
Martin, the Swansea manager, was due to fly to the United States this week for face-to-face discussions with the Welsh club’s majority owners, who hoped to clarify his own future, but he remains in the UK.
Southampton have not made a formal approach, but expectations have been raised for Martin to take over at St Mary’s.
Like Athletic As previously reported, Southampton intend to implement a possession-based style next season, moving away from the high-pressing approach under Ralf Hasenhuettel and Ruben Seles. Martin’s work at Swansea and MK Dons fits the criteria.
New director Jason Wilcox, who will officially join from Manchester City in the coming weeks, will lead the football department and work over the manager, with Sport Republic co-founder Rasmus Ankersen leading the managerial search.
Current manager Seles is set to leave Southampton when his contract expires on June 30 and, speaking at his press conference ahead of the trip to Brighton, admitted he is yet to get clarity on his future.
“We have been talking to the club since the beginning that we will do a review after the Liverpool game,” Seles said.
“And that’s what I expect. And then if the club wants to make a move, with or without me, I expect them to let me know before it becomes public.”
“Martin’s basic principles are clear”
Analysis by Jacob Tanswell
Sport Republic intends to abandon the Red Bull model, which was pioneered by Ralph Hasenhuttl and fleetingly championed by Selles.
A possession-heavy approach has been seen as beneficial in a relentless, all-consuming 46-game Championship season and if modeled correctly, as Burnley have demonstrated under a young, talented coach in Vincent Kompany, can bring immediate rewards.
Indeed, only Burnley registered a marginally higher average possession rate (64 per cent) than Martin’s Swansea (63.4 per cent) and were the only side to make more progressive passes.
Martin’s fundamentals are clear and for a club that has failed to show a united mindset this season, the clarity of style will hopefully yield much more substance.
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