Russell Martin

[ClaphamFox]

2 minutes ago, Sol thewall Bamba said:

Are they hoping he quits again so they don't have to pay him compo? Absolute circus club. 

They don't have the guts to initiate the break-up conversation, so are acting all distant and mean in the hope he'll break up with us.

[teblin]

I don't think they can be truly ghosting RVN, surely not.

[ClaphamFox]

11 minutes ago, teblin said:

Seems speculative based on his comments at the weekend.

 

If it is still the case it is an absolutely ridiculous that they haven't told him. 

It could be speculative, as you say. But it wouldn't surprise me if they've had an off-the-record conversation with RVN or - more likely - his agent. 

 

Either way, it looks like those reports last week that RVN was on the verge of being sacked and replaced by Russell Martin were a bit premature. A few days ago there were rumours that we'd have some news today, but I'm not holding my breath personally...

Edited 30 May 2025 by ClaphamFox

[urban.spaceman]

Maybe the club don’t have the heart to tell him he’s sacked and are just planning to sign a new manager and tell him to pretend Ruud isn’t there?

[Ric Flair]

It is absolutely staggering. We're wasting valuable time, something we didn't do in 2023/24 when the likes of Southampton and Leeds did and it hampered them.

[ClaphamFox]

1 minute ago, Ric Flair said:

It is absolutely staggering. We're wasting valuable time, something we didn't do in 2023/24 when the likes of Southampton and Leeds did and it hampered them.

To be fair we weren't exactly quick off the mark in 23/24 either. Dean Smith wasn't told he wouldn't get the permanent gig until a couple of weeks after the season ended and Maresca was appointed on 16 June. Martin joined Southampton a week later but Leeds didn't appoint Farke until July, I think....

[BKLFox]

5 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

It is absolutely staggering. We're wasting valuable time, something we didn't do in 2023/24 when the likes of Southampton and Leeds did and it hampered them.

Exactly, Still & his team will be all over accessing STH current squad, watching the season back and potential targets and even Ipswich are already doing business with Delap going and potential loan replacement from Chelsea as a sweetener in Marc Guiu.

[Corky]

11 minutes ago, urban.spaceman said:

Maybe the club don’t have the heart to tell him he’s sacked and are just planning to sign a new manager and tell him to pretend Ruud isn’t there?

Appoint a new bloke, keep Ruud and alternate who is in charge each week. 

[VLC86]

I was told it’s a contractual issue where there is a severance period meaning we can’t announce either the sacking or Martin being appointed.

 

No idea how true that is or even the logic of why Ruud/the club would want that though.

[Chelmofox]

3 minutes ago, BKLFox said:

Exactly, Still & his team will be all over accessing STH current squad, watching the season back and potential targets and even Ipswich are already doing business with Delap going and potential loan replacement from Chelsea as a sweetener in Marc Guiu.

Will Still will be playing on his XBox. Don't worry about him.

[MPH]

27 minutes ago, teblin said:

I don't think they can be truly ghosting RVN, surely not.

 

might be a way of forcing him to resign instead of sacking him. Much cheaper that way.

[Happy Fox]

9 minutes ago, VLC86 said:

I was told it’s a contractual issue where there is a severance period meaning we can’t announce either the sacking or Martin being appointed.

 

No idea how true that is or even the logic of why Ruud/the club would want that though.

 

 Martin goes to Rangers.

[Lesta2014]

12 minutes ago, VLC86 said:

I was told it’s a contractual issue where there is a severance period meaning we can’t announce either the sacking or Martin being appointed.

 

No idea how true that is or even the logic of why Ruud/the club would want that though.

Surely the quicker you announce ruud gone the quicker the severance periods up and replacement can be announced? 

[Iwebema]

23 minutes ago, VLC86 said:

I was told it’s a contractual issue where there is a severance period meaning we can’t announce either the sacking or Martin being appointed.

 

No idea how true that is or even the logic of why Ruud/the club would want that though.

If we make the assumption the club are making plans, I would imagine they are stuck between when they want the severance package to hit given the PSR issue, they may want better clarity on the impacts of that before making a call on when to sack RVN i.e. before 30th June or after.

 

We cant afford to wait until then, but they've made such a cock up of everything we might have to?

[Scotch]

1 hour ago, ClaphamFox said:

It doesn't. But would you be surprised if they still hadn't spoken to him? Because I wouldn't...

Absolutely not. 

[bald reynard]

21 minutes ago, Happy Fox said:

 

 Martin goes to Rangers.

Ancelloti's odds have gone out a bit this morning, Martin's come in (now 7/4).

[AKCJ]

37 minutes ago, ClaphamFox said:

To be fair we weren't exactly quick off the mark in 23/24 either. Dean Smith wasn't told he wouldn't get the permanent gig until a couple of weeks after the season ended and Maresca was appointed on 16 June. Martin joined Southampton a week later but Leeds didn't appoint Farke until July, I think....

We were relegated on 28th May 2023 and appointed Maresca 19 days later.

 

This year we were relegated on 20th April and here we are 40 days later with seemingly nothing agreed.

[Nickaj]

9 minutes ago, AKCJ said:

We were relegated on 28th May 2023 and appointed Maresca 19 days later.

 

This year we were relegated on 20th April and here we are 40 days later with seemingly nothing agreed.

 

Nothing has been made public, that’s very far from being the same thing as nothing has been agreed

[ClaphamFox]

32 minutes ago, VLC86 said:

I was told it’s a contractual issue where there is a severance period meaning we can’t announce either the sacking or Martin being appointed.

 

No idea how true that is or even the logic of why Ruud/the club would want that though.

Not wishing to diss your source, but that sounds like a very odd arrangement. Why would there be a clause preventing RVN's departure being announced once the decision has been made? There's no obvious benefit to either party. If it was related to his severance package being reduced once we're no longer a PL club, I could understand the logic. But a clause that prevents anybody talking about a sacking after it has been done? That doesn't make much sense to me...

[demon_dog]

Don't want Martin, don't think he's the right man for the job.

Will have to wait and see what they do. Wouldn't be surprised if RVN stays 

[Loxm]

On 29/05/2025 at 08:14, VLC86 said:

Knowing us we would end up with Joanna Lumley, but no not a Southampton player.

 

No idea how accurate it is, but the person this came from knows enough people from different sources to think it’s probably legit.

Schlupp?

[jayfox26]

53 minutes ago, Corky said:

Appoint a new bloke, keep Ruud and alternate who is in charge each week. 

Or to save money, we just rotate between different foxestalk members each game. I don't mind taking over for a match if needed. Just need to check my diary though and make sure the wife is alright with it. 

[nnfox]

1 hour ago, Ric Flair said:

It is absolutely staggering. We're wasting valuable time, something we didn't do in 2023/24 when the likes of Southampton and Leeds did and it hampered them.

Maybe we're keeping RvN and preparations are well under way?

[Loxm]

1 hour ago, ClaphamFox said:

To be fair we weren't exactly quick off the mark in 23/24 either. Dean Smith wasn't told he wouldn't get the permanent gig until a couple of weeks after the season ended and Maresca was appointed on 16 June. Martin joined Southampton a week later but Leeds didn't appoint Farke until July, I think....

the difference this year is we were relegated in April, not on the last day of the season! They've had nearly 6 weeks to put a plan in place and are still twiddling their thumbs!

[AjcW]

1 hour ago, urban.spaceman said:

Maybe the club don’t have the heart to tell him he’s sacked and are just planning to sign a new manager and tell him to pretend Ruud isn’t there?