Surman backs former manager to be a success at Saints

ANDREW SURMAN has backed his former boss Russell Martin to be a success at Southampton, but admits the current Swansea City manager may need time to get it right at St Mary’s.

Surman played with Martin at Norwich City, and worked with him again when the 37-year-old was starting his managerial journey at MK

Dons back in the 2020/21 season.

And the former midfielder insists he’s confident the outgoing Swans boss has the tools to lead Southampton’s charge next season.

However, he’s wonders whether Martin will be given the time to lay down his philosophies at St Mary’s.

Speaking to BBC Radio Solent, he said: “I played with him at Norwich as well, and was quite interested to see how much he had changed.

“He’s very good with the players, he’ll give them a lot of confidence and the way he wants to play, you need a lot of confidence.

“They will have a lot of ball on the edge of the box, it will be risky too. I think he will be really good, but he needs time and you don’t get a lot of that in football.

“He was really good for my game. Where I was at in my career, he told me to get on the ball and make as many passes as possible.

“It’s well documented that when he was at MK Dons, and at Swansea as well, you know you’ll get 70% possession. And people will argue that it’s fine having possession but if you’re not going anywhere with it, it doesn’t really matter.

“He’s building something in his own way and for his own managerial career, and developing his teams every year.

“What you’ll find, you’ll get total possession, they will have a lot of the ball but whether they can turn that into wins is a different story.”