Russell Martin plays a key role in the recruitment at Southampton, with the manager having a big say on which players the club target.
This is not the case for all managers, but Russell Martin is involved heavily in the transfer business at Southampton.
So far, Martin has welcomed eight first-team signings to Southampton this summer, all of whom have been identified as players who can thrive in his possession-based style.
The arrival of Flynn Downes was perhaps the most important of these, with Martin very vocal on his desire to secure the midfielder’s permanent return after an impressive season on loan last summer.
Despite the numerous signings already this summer, Southampton’s business is far from over and it has now been revealed what is a key factor in Martin’s decision to sign a particular player.
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Russell Martin wants good characters at Southampton
Martin deserves enormous credit for the job he has done at Southampton so far.
The 38-year-old arrived at the club at a time when they were in turmoil after suffering relegation from the Premier League.
Martin transformed the playing style en route to securing promotion via the play-offs, all whilst reparing the fractured relationship with a fanbase who had grown tired of being let down by their side.
Whilst the ability of the players on the pitch was a key reason for this improvement, it is their off-field qualities that are equally as important to Martin.
Speaking on BBC Sounds, Southampton broadcaster Adam Blackmore confirmed as much, saying: “I think it’s important. There’s a lot of good footballers out there but how many do you want to spend an evening with and are actually decent human beings?
“I think that’s important for Russell Martin, certainly he’s talked about that before of course, the relationship he likes to have the players and of course you can’t do that if players are causing problems in the camp.”
Martin has built leadership core at Southampton
When Martin joined Southampton last summer they were a club bereft of leaders and players willing to take responsibility.
This is something he has quickly changed in his solitary year at the club.
Jack Stephens was given the captaincy by Martin last summer, but Adam Armstrong spent much of the first half of the campaign with the armband with Stephens injured.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Flynn Downes were both on loan last season before signing permanently this summer and both have captained the side at times this pre-season.
Harwood-Bellis has experience of being England under-21 captain and has really grown into a leader at the Saints, whilst the experience of Adam Lallana and Charlie Taylor being added this summer only serves to improve the core of the club.
Martin has moulded a very tight-knit group at Southampton and he is not willing to sacrifice that for a signing who will not fit the side’s ethos.