The name of Russell Martin remains clear at the top of the next Swans manager odds and social media last night was convinced that his reaction at the end of their pre-season defeat at home to Spurs was a goodbye to the fans as he acknowledged them at the final whistle.
The Swans are believed to have made contact with the Dons to speak to Martin as their successor to Steve Cooper who departed the club last week. Since John Eustace turned down the chance to move to South Wales last weekend the names of Martin and Morris have been at the front end of all the discussion and it has been widely believed that one of these two will be the man charged with taking charge of the Swans this season.
As Alan Tate took charge of the team at Forest Green last night, eyes were on Martin who was at StadiumMK watching his side beaten by Spurs but not ashamed in a pre-season game. At the end he appreciated the support of the fans as they all return to games and acknowledged them as this Tweet from the official MK Dons site showed
👏 Super Russell Martin! pic.twitter.com/Xlef8f8nG4
— Milton Keynes Dons (@MKDonsFC) July 28, 2021
The responses to the Tweet were clear that Swans fans were believing that was him saying goodbye whilst Dons fans were pushing back and saying he always does that after games.
Watching the video it does look and feel like a goodbye from Martin and one that could suggest that a managerial announcement could even be in the offing today. Time will tell on that front but are we about to welcome Russell to Swansea.
Off the pitch, Martin runs his own charitable foundation in Brighton – the Russell Martin Foundation. The organisation gives kids the chance to play football and work their way into academy football. Having become vegan in 2014 for health reasons, Martin is also part-owner of Erpingham House, the largest vegan restaurant in the UK.
He’s not joining us. Straight from the horse’s mouth…….