Southampton poised to announce Swansea boss Martin as new manager as fee is revealed
Championship-bound Southampton are set to appoint Swansea City boss Russell Martin as their new manager with Ruben Selles set to depart, according to reports.
The Saints officially confirmed on Wednesday that Selles will leave his role as manager at the end of the season after replacing Nathan Jones on a temporary basis.
Jones was sacked just 14 matches into his time at the St Mary’s Stadium after he succeeded Ralph Hasenhuttl in November.
A statement from Southampton read: “Southampton Football Club can confirm that it has held conversations with Ruben Selles and decided that his contract will not be renewed when it expires at the end of the season.
“The club wants to place on record its thanks to Rubén for taking on the managerial position at a difficult time for the club and for giving his all as we attempted to stay in the Premier League.
“Rubén will take charge of the team for the final game against Liverpool on Sunday at St Mary’s. We wish him all the best for his future career.”
And now The Guardian claim that Southampton are ‘poised to announce’ Swansea’s Martin ‘as their new head coach’ after being relegated from the Premier League.
The Guardian adds:
‘A compensation package worth upwards of £400,000 is thought to have been agreed with Championship Swansea City where Martin, the former Norwich defender and captain, has won admirers across the past two seasons.
‘Relegated Southampton struck a deal with Martin after he did not travel to the United States as planned for talks with the Swansea owners. Enzo Maresca, who works alongside Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, was also earmarked as a candidate for the job.’
Speaking ahead of their 3-1 defeat to Brighton, Selles said: “The first question of if I want to stay as a coach if I am not the manager…absolutely not.
“If someone has a doubt you can put it there and if they don’t know through me they can read it in the media. I will try to make my career as a manager, here if it is possible and if not here then in another place.
“I don’t think it’s insensitive, it is what it is, if I don’t want people to talk about it I should win more football matches, I know the business, that’s how it is.
“We will talk with the club and make a review after the Liverpool game and that is what I am expecting. Then if the club wants to make any movement with or without me I expect them to communicate with me before being made public.”
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