Martinez To Stay

Both Roberto Martinez and Kenny Jackett have stated today that the skipper’s future is at Swansea despite him being left out of the matchday squad for the two away trips to Rochdale and Macclesfield last week. Neither elaborated on what was said in two meetings between the pair last week but Martinez has vowed to fight on whilst Jackett stated “He has a future at Swansea”

Speculation had raged in sections of the support that the ball control and vision of Martinez may not have fitted into Jackett’s plans with his style of football christened “hoofball” by some supporters. Whilst this style has not been denied by either person, it is clear from their comments that Martinez will at least see out the remaining 10 months of his Swansea contract – one that he stated when signing that he would not renew having already gone back on a promise to his family.

Speaking to the Evening Post, Martinez said ”The easiest thing for me to do in this situation would be to look for a change and leave the club,” the 31-year-old said, ”but to give up and go somewhere else would be a coward’s decision. ”I have never been a coward and that’s not going to change now because I would be letting myself down, the club down and a lot of fans who have been so good to me down. ”I have become too attached to this club and I love it too much to go. Coming to Swansea from a First Division club took a lot of thought, but I have loved it. I have had some great feelings in the last two seasons – the football club has turned around – and I am not going to give that up that easily” confirming what most Swans fans know Roberto to be – a true professional.

Martinez continued ”I have played in Spain, in Scotland and throughout the English league and have shown that I can adapt to different styles of football,” he added. ”And to show that I will continue to work hard in training as I have done since the day I arrived. I’ve been a professional since I was 16 and I know exactly what is expected. ”My home is many miles from here and I am here for the football and the feeling within the club. I’m desperate to get back into the first-team and that’s what I’ll work to do.” ”Maybe I’ll talk about that at the end of the season, but for now I will concentrate on helping the boys and the gaffer,” he said. ”That’s what is healthy for everyone.”

Fans have rightly pointed out that the events of the past week could easily have been handled better and the media speculation that has surrounded the team change has not helped the cause one bit. It is evident that both Jackett and Roberto want to keep their discussions private and I guess we will have to respect that.

Jackett refused though to be drawn on whether he would let Roberto go if there was interest from elsewhere ”Would I let him go if a club came in? Good question. I’d have to cross that bridge when I came to it.” he said ”Roberto is a very good professional with a good attitude and I’m pleased he’s going to knuckle down and fight for his place. ”He has a future at Swansea.”

Meanwhile Jackett has also revealed that he wants Lee Trundle back in action to solve his side’s apparent drought in front of goal “We had a lot of pressure and got the ball into wide areas, but you need to score in those spells,” Jackett told The Western Mail.

“Trundle is our top scorer and if we get the ball in the box with that regularity then he will score.”

Both Trundle and Martinez are expected to feature in Swansea’s reserve match on Wednesday evening which will take place at the Vetch Field with a 7pm kick off. The opponents are Bristol Rovers.

Whether we have heard the last of the Martinez saga remains to be seen but for now it looks as if he is staying and hopefully re-gaining the form that will get him a place back in the side – something that all Swans fans would like to see.