Rob Davies
Russell Martin has been linked with the vacant manager’s position at West Brom after Steve Bruce’s dismissal earlier this week and was quizzed on his interest in the role in today’s press conference.
The Swans boss has enjoyed a huge upturn in fortunes after a less than favourable start saw the club languishing in the lower reaches of the Championship with murmurs of discontent beginning to come from the stands.
But four straight wins and five in six games has dismissed any dissenting voices and Martin has never had a higher profile than this moment with the Swans handily placed in the top six just three points off top spot.
West Brom are a club that has a much larger budget than Martin has in SA1 and much loftier ambitions of a return to the Premier League so there’s little surprise to see him amongst the candidates for the job. But would be be interested?
In short, he said no although you could say there were a few parts of his response which could be seen as the matter largely being out of his own hands.
Gary Rowett is the clear favourite for the role at present with Sean Dyche, Chris Wilder and former Huddersfield boss Carlos Corberan near the top of the contenders. Martin is not on the betting list at least.
“We’re really happy here,” said the Swansea head coach.
“I have said that all the way along. I wouldn’t say that if we didn’t feel that.
“Social media [speculation], papers or whatever – we have a job to do and we love the job we’re in.
“We’ve done 14 months of such hard work [at Swansea], with a lot of pain and challenge, and we’re starting to really reap the benefits of that,” Martin added.
“We left our previous club after 18 months of really hard work and someone else really benefited from that. I don’t really want to do the same again here. I would like for us to see the rewards for hard work.
“When you get linked with certain bits, hopefully it highlights you’re doing a good job.
“When you get a few bad results it can go the other way, but there was never a question when we went through a tough start. In fact the club showed more support than ever – the owners and Julian [chief executive Winter]. Hopefully we will repay that loyalty and faith.
“When you’re happy you feel a certain sense of fulfilment. You are seeing so many young players go on the pitch and show really good things.
“That’s the best bit of our job. It would take something really special to take us away from that.
“If at some point the club want to discuss a new contract, then it means we are doing something right and of course we’d be more than open to that.”
He doesn’t seem to be in the frame. But let’s be honest if Wedt Brom came calling Martin would leave .Firstly they are a more ambitious club than us and secondly the Yanks would be delighted to pocket the compensation cash.