Russell Martin who has consistently played a simple but robust passing game at MK Dons and his club have played down any possibility of him joining Swansea City in the foreseeable future. The club have received no approach from the swans, albeit as of this afternoon, but the lack of awareness around this doesn’t stop some bookies placing Martin as favourite to take over at the swans.
UPDATED * 7pm, we understand an approach has now been made although we have no official confirmation *
Martin has been admired for his passing style and ball retention in League one, only being bettered by Barcelona and Manchester City, however that style of play only meant a thirteenth placed finish for MK Dons last time around. The swans would have to pay compensation which will put them off, and it won’t be a small amount either. Martin would come with limited connections in the game unlike Jody Morris.
Jody Morris has experience as a number two at Chelsea
Jody Morris, a candidate we do know has been spoken to but not formally is also in the running with ex Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes a late addition we hear, although his appointment would be well away from the normal ‘Swansea City’ type of candidate the club has considered in recent years. McInnes has been on the swans radar before, and over the years he has been at loggerheads with Swansea preventing players at Aberdeen talking to the swans, Scott McKenna being an example. Never one to shy away from publicity when manager of Bristol City in 2012, following a game away at Birmingham City McInnes gave £300 to seventeen Bristol City fans who had their minibus tyres slashed outside St Andrew's Stadium. McInnes tenure at Ashton Gate was hardly successful and is a cloud over his managerial career at championship level.
Derek McInnes, out of work and a 54% win rate
McInnes for the many dissenters he picked up at the end of his managerial career at Aberdeen still left with a nigh in 54% win rate, and that was over eight years at the club, not to be ignored. Even his final twenty games at the club which were described as complete ‘torment’ by Dons fans couldn’t affect his admirable figures. Being out of contract he isn’t to be ignored, he is a candidate. He is also used to preparing teams on a tight budget, and although his style of play is more about loading the attacking areas of the pitch with a fast inner passing style swans fans can be sure if he got the job they wouldn’t be short on excitement.
Like Morris and Martin we know nothing official has been done regards McInnes as yet.
The rank outsider is Cameron Toshack, his leaving Swansea wasn’t too amicable although you couldn’t blame him after being overlooked numerous times for the main role at the club. Everyone at the swans knows about Cameron’s ability with youngsters, and his successes too. However unless something odd happens this week, mind you it’s been an odd week, he is and remains on the edge of matters.
The next forty eight hours may well tell us what happens next. Suffice to say the swans take on Forest Green Rovers at the Lawn on Wednesday night, and Alan Tate will take charge of first team matters.