SeaJack There seems to be a narrative concocted with Russell Martin as being some Ming the Merciless character, who has seized control of the club and will crush it in his bare hands unless Julian Winter and Mark Allen can escape being in thrall of this tyrannical dictator.
He may have stipulated certain demands prior to signing on the dotted line but that isn’t being tyrannical, that’s simply making sure that the club can give him what he needs to succeed as the club’s manager. And I’m sure that this was within reason so that the club didn’t overstretch itself to the point of it being detrimental to the club.
Need I remind anyone that there were similar concerns over Steve Cooper and his decision to take the style of play away from what Graham Potter had implemented the season before he took control. There is a belief that he got the job under false pretences although this admittedly is hearsay. He effectively put the GP/Swansea City AFC project on ice in favour of introducing what was at times a hit and hope tactic with regards to passing the ball into touch or directly to an opposition player. Thankfully, the score-lines and eventual outcomes come the end of the two seasons that he was with us, spared his blushes somewhat as the football was dire to watch at times.
Russell Martin was good enough and brave enough to take on what was effectively a poison chalice after what took place with the Eustace debacle. With some notable opposing voices regarding Steve Cooper at least, both Graham Potter and the aforementioned were still cut a lot of slack despite their respective wobbles/disasters on the pitch. Why Russell Martin isn’t being afforded that by some and being attacked on the forum is a mystery to me. He needs a fair crack of the whip I feel to fully implement what Potter reintroduced to the club upon his appointment.
What was put on ice by Cooper is only just beginning to thaw so patience is the key as with all our managers since the drop. We have to remember that each and every manager that we have appointed throughout the rise to the Premier League, during our stay in the Premier League, and whilst in the Championship at present has been a punt. Some have been successful, some of them phenomenally so, whilst others have been a total disaster. I don’t see RM as being any different to what has gone before. Unless you bring in the likes of Klopp or Guardiola then the choice of managers that we are able to choose from will always come with an inherent risk.
Well that is an exaggerated depiction of what anyone has said, but let's look at the facts.
In September 2020 Julian Winter replaced Trevor Birch as chief executive - a highly admired CEO, who has a record of speaking truth to power and resigning on principle, being replaced by someone @Mark_Jack_London has been very disparaging about. And he has lots of contacts in the club so I am sure he knows what he is talking about. Obviously not Martin's doing as it was nearly a year before he joined, but a weakening in the controls on the manager.
In July 2021, following Steve Cooper's departure, Andy Scott is promoted to a bigger role at the club, overseeing a range of issues no longer limited to recruitment.
Same month, Russell Martin asks Alan Tate's help with his application for the Swansea role, which Tatey graciously provides.
August 2021, Scott is demoted and Mark Allen given a bigger job as part of a restructuring following Russell Martin's appointment.
Scott (49) is a football man through and through - he started playing as a teenager and when he retired on health grounds in 2005 he moved straight into coaching.
Allen (58) has an impressive recent record in football, managing the Man City academy and being Rangers' Director of Football. Surprisingly, perhaps, he only got his first job in football at the age of 45 and has never played professionally. He spent most of his career in managerial roles in TV and film production.
In September, Alan Tate is offered a job that is an obvious demotion, and shortly afterwards he leaves.
In December, Scott follows him out the door.
These are indisputable facts. How we interpret them is of course a matter for each of us as individuals. You may decide that Scott's promotion, demotion and exit were unrelated to Martin's appointment. Same with Tate. Or that Allen (who has never managed a football team) would be no less able to take Martin to one side and speak to him with authority about what's going wrong as Scott (who has managed three teams including Brentford).
I don't see Martin as a Ming the Merciless, I see him as a headstrong young manager who is being allowed to pursue his one big idea without being offered the challenge he needs. It's known as Group Think. I flagged it as a potential problem before Tatey or Scott left. Now I am worried as hell.