Promotion via the play-offs is still on the cards for Southampton, but problems may lie ahead if manager Russell Martin has his head turned by a potential upcoming vacancy at Brighton & Hove Albion.
Many Saints fans may have hoped to be in among the automatic promotion places at the beginning of this season, but it is the play-offs that look most likely for Martin’s side from this point.
| Championship Table (As it stands April 10th) | ||||
| Team | P | GD | Pts | |
| 1 | Leicester City | 41 | 42 | 88 |
| 2 | Leeds United | 42 | 43 | 87 |
| 3 | Ipswich Town | 41 | 32 | 87 |
| 4 | Southampton | 40 | 26 | 78 |
| 5 | West Brom | 41 | 23 | 69 |
| 6 | Norwich City | 42 | 15 | 68 |
| 7 | Coventry City | 41 | 17 | 63 |
| 8 | Preston North End | 41 | 0 | 63 |
Despite that, the 38-year-old has been commended for the job he’s done at St Mary’s this season, most notably taking his side on a 25-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
His performance from the dugout has reportedly turned the heads of Premier League side Brighton, and should the interest be advanced, it is sure to be of high interest to Martin.
Martin already has connections to Brighton
The current Saints boss was born in Brighton and regularly watched the Seagulls as he was growing up, so he already has a bond with the club which are reportedly interested in his services.
That bond is furthered by the fact he also spent some time in the Brighton academy as a youngster, but he dropped to non-league during that time while going through some difficult personal circumstances.
It was reported that his boyhood club held conversations with him during the last international break, despite nothing being formally agreed or decided at this stage.
The Seagulls will be compiling a list of potential candidates to replace incumbent boss Roberto De Zerbi following rumoured interest from a number of top clubs, and the Italian coach not doing much to dampen the speculation.
Brighton would represent a significant step up for Russell Martin
Martin began his managerial career at MK Dons in 2019 after helping the team to promotion from League Two as a player the previous season, following the departure of previous boss Paul Tisdale.
He made the Dons a competitive side in the third tier over the next two years, before earning himself a move to the Championship with Swansea City in 2021.
Establishing the Swans as a mid-table Championship side in his two years at the Swansea.com Stadium, he was offered yet another step up last summer when recently-relegated Southampton came knocking, with eyes on promotion back into the Premier League.
A move to the Amex Stadium would represent yet another move up in his steady managerial progression, as a side that are comfortable in the top flight and will likely be aiming for European football.
Along with Martin’s links to Brighton, the move would also make sense when considering the current trajectory of his post-playing career, a fact which may provide extra worry to Saints fans.
Russell Martin’s history suggests a move to Brighton this summer is likely
More unsettling for supporters at St Mary’s is the fact that Martin has established himself as a manager that won’t hang around at a club if he sees there is progression to be made.
He is yet to stay at a club for much longer than two years and always seems ready to take on a bigger challenge, so although this move would be 12 months ahead of the usual schedule, it still fits within the general pattern.
Even if Martin were to lead the Saints to promotion at the end of this season, Southampton would likely still be a team aiming to avoid relegation in the top flight before looking upwards, so a deal to take him to a European-chasing side with greater resources would still be seen as a progression.
With De Zerbi still in post, these concerns are not immediate, but on various fronts, the scenario seems to be shaping up in a way that could easily see Martin depart St Mary’s.
It would be a major blow to Southampton, but they may be wise to start considering the possibility now.
