'Really grateful' - Saints confirm Martin has signed new multi-year contract

SAINTS manager Russell Martin has signed a new three-year contract, the club have confirmed.

Martin has only been at St Mary's for 12 months but helped oversee the club's promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

Having joined after two years at Championship Swansea City, Martin will now get a chance to manage in the top flight for the first time.

Saints went on a record-breaking unbeaten run last campaign before beating Leeds United 1-0 in the Championship play-off final.

As well as Martin, his coaching staff of Matt Gill, Dean Thornton, Colin Calderwood, Carl Martin, Rhys Owen and Ben Parker have also signed new contracts with the club.

Martin said: “Firstly, I'm really grateful to the owners and to Phil Parsons.

Boss Russell Martin and his Saints coaching team (Image: Southampton FC)

"Once the season was finished, they expressed a desire to discuss a long-term plan with myself and the coaching staff.

"It just made me feel that we're all together and that we are really aligned, really together on the plan and we're going to attack the Premier League in our way, so it's really exciting.

“I’d like to thank them for showing that commitment and for really believing in us and what we've done and the support they've given us so far."

He added: "I'm really looking forward to continuing the journey, because it's been an amazing year.

“I feel like we've all learned so much as a club, as a group. I feel like there's so much to be excited about that when we first discussed it there was not even a question from myself or the coaches about what to do.

"It was like 'Yeah, let's do this' and it's all been tied up pretty quickly and I'm really excited about the season ahead.”

The deal represents a further strengthening of the commitment between the club and Martin ahead of pre-season preparations beginning this week

Saints chairman Henrik Kraft explained: “We were confident when Russell was appointed that he would be an excellent fit for the club and his first 12 months here have certainly shown that to be the case.

“He has had an extremely positive impact both on and off the pitch, culminating in promotion from what was one of the most competitive Championship seasons in memory.

“As we return to the Premier League, and after the achievements of last season, we felt it was right to underline the commitment between us.

“We know that historically, promoted teams will face a real battle to survive in the Premier League, but we are excited to see how the squad embraces the challenge that lies ahead this year under Russell’s continued guidance.”