There are those that still have doubts about Russell Martin, but the blunt truth is that he did the job he was employed to do and that was get Saints back to the Premier League at the first attempt, now with a new 3 year contract signed and delivered comes the hard part.

Russell Martin has been speaking to the Daily Echo about his plans for the coming season and moving forward in the longer term, with a new contract signed for the next three years he intends to build on the foundations he has made so far.

Martin said: "I feel like last year was the toughest year I have ever had professionally and personally but I am so much better for it.

“I feel better as a coach and as a person but there is still so much to improve - I still make so many mistakes.

"I am really willing to learn and I think the people here know that. Contrary to popular belief, I am really willing to listen to opinions.

"My only intention here is to be the best I can possibly be - and it's the same with my coaches - and I have to hope that is enough.

"This year is going to be a huge challenge in the Premier League as the first time I've been there as a manager, but I am so excited about that.

"Nothing changes for me, we have a group of players in the dressing room that I love working with and of course, we will add to that.

"Some will move on but if we can keep that core group together and keep growing then I think we are capable of so much in the next year or two.

Although some will say that Martin made some big mistakes last season and there are many who think that we underperformed as we approached the end of the season and that came from the managers stubbornness to play certain players no mater what, the fact is that he did learn from his mistakes.

"They are also people who really want to be a part of this group and what we are building. Anyone who comes in has to buy into that.

"They have to buy not just into being in the Premier League and being grateful for that but for the vision and the style. We have built everything around that now.

"The way we train and the way we behave off the pitch is all built around going onto the pitch and being brave enough to express yourself."

Following the departure of director of football Jason Wilcox, it now means that the manager is working even more closely with the recruitment team and offered insight into their plans.

Martin said: "We will get stronger in the identity of the team and we will get better at so many things.

"I am convinced of that because we have to - and the guys are so willing to learn. We have made a couple of signings already.

"They are going to really help us with that as they have lots of Premier League experience and are demanding characters in the best way.

"They are also people who really want to be a part of this group and what we are building. Anyone who comes in has to buy into that.

"They have to buy not just into being in the Premier League and being grateful for that but for the vision and the style. We have built everything around that now.

"The way we train and the way we behave off the pitch is all built around going onto the pitch and being brave enough to express yourself."

This is good to hear from Martin, although implementing it might be more difficult than he might think as he goes into the unknown in the Premier League as a manager.

But the signings made so far have been astute, not headline making or exciting to the fans, but astute and although some are already decrying the fact that Taylor Harwood Bellis aside we haven’t spent big, I would say it is about making the signings we need, but we have to be patient, they don’t always arrive in the order we would like to see them.

So there are now just over 6 weeks to go until the start of the season and 8 weeks before the transfer window slams shut, hopefully we will see more signings to come and that the manager will stick to his word, signing players who buy into the club and who will improve the squad.

"They are also people who really want to be a part of this group and what we are building. Anyone who comes in has to buy into that.

"They have to buy not just into being in the Premier League and being grateful for that but for the vision and the style. We have built everything around that now.

"The way we train and the way we behave off the pitch is all built around going onto the pitch and being brave enough to express yourself."

Photo: Action Images

City_boy added 16:59 - Jul 3 Whilst he achieved what club set out at start of season, which was promotion. With our squad we should have finished in top 3. Last season, at times we looked very average and there was a number of occasions where his decision making (e.g subs , selections and loyalty to players under performing) was called into question. I didn't see the need to rush into an extension at this stage, when he still had 2 years on his current deal. A bit premature I think.

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darthvader added 19:01 - Jul 3 Im happy . Hes still young enough to learn new things and did change things up at the end of the season . Idv been gutted if he left
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mascott514 added 20:34 - Jul 3 Deserves an extention- turned a lot of things round, including the St Marys atmosphere.You can't please everyone- but he's helped bring pride back- where there was chaos
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SaintEPW added 07:29 - Jul 12 By any standards he did a remarkable job. He followed a massively failed appointment of the wrong manager. Took a large group of players in disarray - on the brink of immense player transfers and uncertainties until well after the season had started. The rest of club was also in a shocked state due to the relegation. He then slowly and patiently rebuilt belief and the positive team and club culture as the season slowly evolved. He also worked so that the playing squad learnt and bought into a wholly new playing style unlike the Hassenhutl approach. The new possession style was closer to what we see successfully employed at Brighton and other successful clubs including Manchester City. It is hard to play and takes time for a squad to learn - until you become skilled at it - and the whole group has to learn the approach because one weak link breaks the system easily. When it fails it is excruciating to watch - and the fans often hated it - yet he persevered because he believed it was right. He eventually had the longest unbeaten run of any Saints team. He went through periods where results did not come and which should have come. He continued to evolve and changed as the team evolved. The team and his hard built approach eventually came through. We had an amazing day at Wembley and came out well deserved winners. We are all entitled to our opinion but there is no doubt he has been an immense success. The examples of failures of managers are plenty to see - often with all the resources provided. Let's get behind him and the club. We still have an even tougher time ahead- yet he has shown the ability to inspire the group and to change and evolve as the challenges come. We are fortunate to have him - yet the biggest test of his ability is to come

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