Southampton plotting to appoint Russell Martin MK II - Expert

Southampton plan to bring in a similar style of manager to Russell Martin despite their struggles playing out from the back this season.

That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that the owners are keen to establish a set philosophy at the club.

This comes after Football Insider revealed that Southampton are keen to seal a quick replacement for the recently-departed boss and are working behind the scenes to reach an agreement.

With the club rock bottom of the Premier League with just one win after 16 games, Martin’s position became untenable.

Brown, meanwhile, recalled watching the Saints’ Under-18s side against Man United last season in a game which ended in a 5-1 defeat as a result of the home side’s insistence on playing from the back.

This, he insisted, was the result of the owners attempting to instill a philosophy where they want to play expansive football from the youth teams to the first team.

The style of play at senior level has led to several defensive mistakes, and Martin’s time at the club was capped by a 5-0 defeat at home against Tottenham.

However, the owners are keen to stick to their guns and will now look for a manager who can continue to build from the back – rather than changing the style completely.

Southampton plan for Russell Martin replacement revealed

Brown told Football Insider following the Saints’ defeat against Aston Villa on 7 December that the club had already begun the process of finding a replacement for Martin.

Now, the former scout who has a wealth of experience working closely with managers including the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson and Ron Atkinson, has insisted that the manager’s position became untenable given the club’s league position.

“I’m told they want to bring in a similar style of manager,” he told Football Insider.

“I watched Southampton’s Under-18s against Man United’s Under-18s last season, and they played exactly the way the first-team played.

“They played some ridiculous football in their own penalty box, it cost them at least two of the goals and they lost the game 5-1 in the end.

“But that comes from the owners who want to establish that as their style of play throughout the club.

“It’s alright having a policy on how you want to play, but if it’s not working, you have to change.

“That was Russell Martin’s big mistake, he wouldn’t change despite the results and their position in the table.

“But it’s the direction I’m told Southampton want to go with and I think they’re prepared to stick to their guns, and they’ll hope the new manager can make it work.”

In other news, Southampton rival West Ham and Norwich in Ed James race.

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