Russell Martin - Confirmed as First Team Manager

[1972 Fox]

8 hours ago, OadbyBlue said:

I don’t think it’s just Leicester fans that thought this though, I think the general consensus in British football is that he is dogmatic, arrogant, and cringeworthy in the same way that Rodgers was viewed during the early 2010’s.

Rodgers still is now in the mid 2020's.

[cropstonfox]

7 hours ago, Suzie the Fox said:

100% agreement with you on both points. 

 

Lets see how he manages when the season kicks off

Still no real faith in him.Lot of talk and bull ,but not the type of Gaffer needed for league one.Also the club is in dire straight  so he's not got much chance 

Really do hope I 'm wrong,but gut feeling is Rogers mk2.

[MGLCFC]

Like many of our managers, it looks like he's been told some fantasy story that funds are available and it's likely he'll soon realise he's been led up the garden path. Personally, I think he's done well pre season to get the group working  hard for one another and playing a system they appear to have bought into. Yes, the real test will come when they are playing competitive games against some seasoned professionals who are likely to be less skilful, but more physical than what they've encountered so far. 

If the board don't back RM in some way during the transfer window, it's likely that he'll fail in the ambition of promotion.

Edited Monday at 20:09 by MGLCFC

[cropstonfox]

49 minutes ago, MGLCFC said:

Like many of our managers, it looks like he's been told some fantasy story that funds are available and it's likely he'll soon realise he's been led up the garden path. Personally, I think he's done well pre season to get the group working  hard for one another and playing a system they appear to have bought into. Yes, the real test will come when they are playing competitive games against some seasoned professionals who are likely to be less skilful, but more physical than what they've encountered so far. 

If the board don't back RM in some way during the transfer window, it's likely that he'll fail in the ambition of promotion.

Spot on.we have to back him even though he us the king of bulls hit.But he needs every chance not every excuse

[Buzzell]

I’ve actually been impressed with pre-season so far. Maybe the bullshit is pulling me in but he might actually be just what we needed. I just hope he gets the opportunity to actually improve the squad more.

[FoxesFan100]

What I like is that he’s setting the expectations of the squad and all around the club. He said getting promoted is first and foremost which I like. It’s challenging the players which can be a good thing. So far, he’s not done anything wrong and only positive views are being shared. Whatever happened to giving people a chance?
 

I know it’s only pre-season and we can’t read too much into it, but I’ve seen a lot of players fight and win the ball back, run for each other covering and supporting, aggressive pressing and some fast fluid pieces of play. There’s a lot to be positive about currently and I really believe the more we practice the better we will get. The true test is in the first “real” game of the season. 
 

I think my only concern with RM currently is he said in his post match interview that he’d have liked us to hold the ball more and not concede the equaliser… however he did say that the players thought and believed they could score more. Personally, I’m a huge fan of that and would always encourage a team to keep attacking and not allowing pressure to be put on us. I guess we’ll see what happens on the first game if we’re winning, will we revert to passing around keeping possession and then lose it when under pressure or do we attack? My head says the former but my heart wants the later. 

[trooky]

9 hours ago, FoxesFan100 said:

What I like is that he’s setting the expectations of the squad and all around the club. He said getting promoted is first and foremost which I like. It’s challenging the players which can be a good thing. So far, he’s not done anything wrong and only positive views are being shared. Whatever happened to giving people a chance?
 

I know it’s only pre-season and we can’t read too much into it, but I’ve seen a lot of players fight and win the ball back, run for each other covering and supporting, aggressive pressing and some fast fluid pieces of play. There’s a lot to be positive about currently and I really believe the more we practice the better we will get. The true test is in the first “real” game of the season. 
 

I think my only concern with RM currently is he said in his post match interview that he’d have liked us to hold the ball more and not concede the equaliser… however he did say that the players thought and believed they could score more. Personally, I’m a huge fan of that and would always encourage a team to keep attacking and not allowing pressure to be put on us. I guess we’ll see what happens on the first game if we’re winning, will we revert to passing around keeping possession and then lose it when under pressure or do we attack? My head says the former but my heart wants the later. 

Agree we have to give him a chance, and I will cut him some slack if he plays Faes in the first game, because of limited options, and we haven't strengthened the squad before the 1st game either. 

 

I still can't believe we haven't signed a striker yet either, and our poor financial state isn't a excuse in my view either. 

 

We have to get out of this division at the first attempt and so far we're not giving the manager the tools he needs. 

[Manley Farrington-Brown]

12 hours ago, cropstonfox said:

Really do hope I 'm wrong,but gut feeling is Rogers mk2.

To be honest Rodgers Mk2 would be fine by me as long as he buggers off after two years. We were bloody brilliant at first under Rodgers, before it all went tits up.

[Greg2607]

3 hours ago, trooky said:

Agree we have to give him a chance, and I will cut him some slack if he plays Faes in the first game, because of limited options, and we haven't strengthened the squad before the 1st game either. 

 

I still can't believe we haven't signed a striker yet either, and our poor financial state isn't a excuse in my view either. 

 

We have to get out of this division at the first attempt and so far we're not giving the manager the tools he needs. 

but he might be being given the only tools we can afford. 

 

we are really walking a tight rope in terms of the clubs future.   Can't afford to invest.... can't afford not to. 

 

[trooky]

21 minutes ago, Greg2607 said:

but he might be being given the only tools we can afford. 

 

we are really walking a tight rope in terms of the clubs future.   Can't afford to invest.... can't afford not to. 

 

We have to invest in a striker, otherwise we have no future 

[Aleksz]

Said a few times on here over the years that we’ve pursued him that I have no idea why our fans were viewing him as the second coming of Dennis Wise. Bizarre. Saying and doing all the right things at the minute and I quite like him as it stands, but thought the same about Cifuentes this time last year. Hope he sticks to his guns in playing the young lads unlike Marti.

[cityfanlee23]

On 28/07/2026 at 12:27, Aleksz said:

Said a few times on here over the years that we’ve pursued him that I have no idea why our fans were viewing him as the second coming of Dennis Wise. Bizarre. Saying and doing all the right things at the minute and I quite like him as it stands, but thought the same about Cifuentes this time last year. Hope he sticks to his guns in playing the young lads unlike Marti.

Yeah the hatred is bizarre really however I can sort of understand the frustration given the style he plays. 
 

I always liked Martin as a player and as a coach I think he often talks a lot of sense, sure he often does say things that are maybe a bit delusional but I think all managers do that especially when they’ve played poorly and lost a game, sometimes I’d guess its just about looking like an idiot to make sure the negativity of a result doesn’t affect players? 
 

Russell Martin was always a grafter of a player and it’s clear he drives standards, the fact Southampton players were rumoured to have asked for his return once Will Still got sacked speaks volumes if true. 
 

It’s been a while since we had players who wanted to run through walls for the manager so hopefully he can keep driving us forward. 

[FoxesTalker]

On 25/07/2026 at 20:38, BenTheFox said:

I really hope this is the perfect marriage for two parties that need to get back on track. 

This does feel like a last chance saloon type of appointment for both club and manager. Hopefully it works in our favour with Martin.

[Langston]

Couldn't find a general staffing thread but a couple leaving in the not too distant future.. 

[coolhandfox]

32 minutes ago, Langston said:

Couldn't find a general staffing thread but a couple leaving in the not too distant future.. 

? 

[lfu]

38 minutes ago, Langston said:

Couldn't find a general staffing thread but a couple leaving in the not too distant future.. 

Those leaving being?

[Claudio Fannieri]

6 hours ago, lfu said:

Those leaving being?

I can see one being Kingy 

[FoxesTalker]

8 hours ago, Langston said:

Couldn't find a general staffing thread but a couple leaving in the not too distant future.. 

https://www.foxestalk.co.uk/topic/139596-coaching-staff/

[Big_Nige]

18 hours ago, cityfanlee23 said:

Yeah the hatred is bizarre really however I can sort of understand the frustration given the style he plays. 
 

I always liked Martin as a player and as a coach I think he often talks a lot of sense, sure he often does say things that are maybe a bit delusional but I think all managers do that especially when they’ve played poorly and lost a game, sometimes I’d guess its just about looking like an idiot to make sure the negativity of a result doesn’t affect players? 
 

Russell Martin was always a grafter of a player and it’s clear he drives standards, the fact Southampton players were rumoured to have asked for his return once Will Still got sacked speaks volumes if true. 
 

It’s been a while since we had players who wanted to run through walls for the manager so hopefully he can keep driving us forward. 

I hated the appointment, but I would have found a reason to hate any appointment. It’s hard at the moment to be enthusiastic about any decision KP make

 

Having said that, I do have reservations about Russell Martin as a coach. But I’ve been really pleased with what I’ve seen during pre-season. It’s the first time since Enzo we’ve seen clear patterns of play and a good level of fitness. He seems to have got the buy in from the players too, but we need to hit the ground running

 

 

 

[cityfanlee23]

1 hour ago, Big_Nige said:

I hated the appointment, but I would have found a reason to hate any appointment. It’s hard at the moment to be enthusiastic about any decision KP make

 

Having said that, I do have reservations about Russell Martin as a coach. But I’ve been really pleased with what I’ve seen during pre-season. It’s the first time since Enzo we’ve seen clear patterns of play and a good level of fitness. He seems to have got the buy in from the players too, but we need to hit the ground running

 

 

 

One thing Enzo did was very quickly turned the general vibe of the club and fanbase around, from a few years of decline where it felt like things were very quickly collapsing after relegation, Enzo just gave off this calmness and leadership that felt like the club was going to turn itself around. 
 

After 2 seasons of collapse, RM is somewhat doing that again. 
We have a manager who has a clear identity, looks to have the players especially the younger ones buying into it and demands standards. 
 

Feels like he’s fixing the foundation first rather than just patching the walls like previous managers have. 

[ourla]

I don't hate Martin. To be honest I don't have much view on him at all.

 

It just doesn't matter at the moment who we appoint whilst under the ownership and management of Top and Rudkin.

 

I'll keep watching and vaguely supporting the team/club in the meantime but until those at the top changes, nothing will change.

[Richmondfox]

1 hour ago, cityfanlee23 said:

One thing Enzo did was very quickly turned the general vibe of the club and fanbase around, from a few years of decline where it felt like things were very quickly collapsing after relegation, Enzo just gave off this calmness and leadership that felt like the club was going to turn itself around. 
 

After 2 seasons of collapse, RM is somewhat doing that again. 
We have a manager who has a clear identity, looks to have the players especially the younger ones buying into it and demands standards. 
 

Feels like he’s fixing the foundation first rather than just patching the walls like previous managers have. 

I find not listening to managers helps.  Winks, JV and Ricardo leaving should make a difference as they controlled too much of the dross we saw. 
 

Let’s see if the results back it all up. 

 

I’m hoping he will bin off Thomas and Hamza.  Too many fans cope saying they are fine for this league, but they will play exactly the same way and make the same mistakes. 

[Clever Fox]

I

33 minutes ago, Richmondfox said:

I find not listening to managers helps.  Winks, JV and Ricardo leaving should make a difference as they controlled too much of the dross we saw. 
 

Let’s see if the results back it all up. 

 

I’m hoping he will bin off Thomas and Hamza.  Too many fans cope saying they are fine for this league, but they will play exactly the same way and make the same mistakes. 

I definitely want to see Hamza go. Here's been here too long now without ever making the step up needed. I also think he'd be a bad influence on the younger players.

 

Thomas I feel has more to give and I think Russell will improve Thomas especially at this level.

[Clever Fox]

Russell reminds me a little of Pearson iand Enzo n that he has a clear agenda of what he wants to do. He already has the players buying into his methods and has them much better prepared and fitter than we've seen in years. That's a big plus in itself for him.

 

He's going to need support from the Fans because weirdly I think it's going to be left to both of us working together to lift the players going forward. With little help from the Club.

 

There's going to be mistakes and ups and down with so many young players coming into the Team, But if we can keep competing while Russel chops and changes and moves us forward then he deserves a real chance. 

 

He may hit the ground running at this level but it may be a case where we shine in the 2nd half of the season. Similar to Pearson with the great escape.

 

With a Striker who leads the line and scores Goals, unlike Daka, I think Russell will do well as he seems to know how to handle players, unlike the last few Managers.

[Richmondfox]

1 hour ago, Clever Fox said:

I

I definitely want to see Hamza go. Here's been here too long now without ever making the step up needed. I also think he'd be a bad influence on the younger players.

 

Thomas I feel has more to give and I think Russell will improve Thomas especially at this level.

Hamza is a stain on this club. my Sheff United mate couldn’t believe we were still playing him as he was so shit at United. 

Hopefully Martin will remind Thomas that he is a footballer, not someone whose sole purpose is to pass the ball back to the cb no matter what or trying to body slam attackers.  This has to be the final chance. 

 

It doesn’t help having winger in front that doesn’t seem to enjoy doing the things that wingers want to.