They can’t even bring themselves to mention the Swans in their statement:
Southampton Football Club is delighted to announce that Russell Martin has been appointed as its new Men’s First Team Manager.
The 37-year-old joins on a contract that runs until 2026 at St Mary’s, after the club reached an agreement to secure his services.
Martin has spent the past two seasons as head coach of the Welsh club, earning widespread acclaim for the team’s progress and style of play during that time, as he led them to within three points of an unlikely Championship playoff berth in the most recent campaign.
Prior to his time there, Martin impressed in his first managerial role, spending a season-and-a-half at MK Dons in League One, overseeing significant improvement in the side’s performances.
Southampton FC Chairman, Henrik Kraft, said: “We are extremely excited to welcome Russell to Southampton.
“Russell was the stand-out candidate throughout our recruitment process and we are confident his strong track record, alongside the experienced leadership of our new Director of Football, Jason Wilcox, will deliver great results.”
Director of Football, Jason Wilcox, added: “Russell has shown fantastic qualities in his managerial career so far and is someone who we believe will thrive in the great environment we have here at Southampton.
“He is a fantastic fit for what we are trying to achieve, with a strong record of developing and nurturing young, talented players to fulfil their potential and deliver results on the pitch.
“We can’t wait for Russell to get started working with the team at Staplewood as we get ready for the new season.”
