I’m going nowhere, insists Swans’ Martin
SWANSEA City boss Russell Martin strenuously insists there was never any chance of taking the vacancies at former clubs Norwich City and Rangers, and says he’s happy with life in south Wales.
Martin was heavily linked with both clubs during the international break, after the departures of Daniel Farke and Steven Gerrard, but insists there was no real substance behind the rumours.
The 35-year-old is currently preparing his Swans side for Saturday’s clash with Blackpool at the Swansea.com Stadium, and has stressed that he is very much enjoying life in SA1, adding that it would have never been interested in a move to pastures new so soon after his arrival.
“It is what it is,” he said. “It’s just two jobs that have come up where I’ve played previously. I’m in a job I’m so happy in, in a place I’m so happy in. My family enjoy it, the coaching staff enjoy it.
“I spoke about it being all in, so for us to even contemplate leaving after three months would have been lunacy.
“So there was nothing in it for us. I was getting texts and messages and all sorts. I guess it shows we’re doing something right that we’re getting linked with other jobs. But I pay no attention to it. We’re really happy here. Really focused with what we’re doing. We feel there’s so much potential here over a period of time.
“We just need to keep growing. Keep improving. I think we’ve got a really exciting group of players that are just giving us everything we can ask for. We just win some more games, and ignore the noise whenever it comes along.”
The links with the Premier League and the current Scottish champions are arguably another indication of the plaudits Martin is earning for his attractive brand of attacking, possessionbased football, which after a shaky start is starting to yield some positive results for his team.
That said. There is clearly plenty of room for improvement on the back of the 4-0 defeat at Bournemouth before the international break, and getting back on track with positive results clearly remains his only concern right now, starting with the visit of the Tangerines on Saturday.
“We’re a really good club in a really competitive league,” he added.
“The way everyone’s been with us they deserve a lot more than for us to look at any opportunity this early on.
“A link is just that. A link. It’s absolutely nothing. I don’t want to disrespect either club, but even if there was something to it, we wouldn’t be going anywhere. We’re really happy here with what we’re doing. There’s so much to improve on as a team and a club.
“I genuinely hope we can be here for a long time, until the club decide we’re no longer wanted or whatever. We have an objective to achieve something in the time that we’re here.
“The fact that the players have been so willing to do what they’ve done, so quickly and give us such a good base to work from is really exciting for us.
“This is a brilliant football club. If someone had said to me after two years of being a manager I would be here in charge of this football club. I would’ve bitten your hand off.
“We’re here. We’re loving it, and we’re fully into the project here.”