Russell Martin set to sign new Saints contract

SAINTS manager Russell Martin is set to sign a new contract after the club's success last season.

Martin, 38, oversaw significant change last summer to guide Saints back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

The St Mary's side beat Leeds United 1-0 at Wembley in the Championship play-off final to secure passage to the top flight.

Martin joined from Swansea City, where he had spent two seasons after progressing from his first management job at MK Dons.

Martin signed a three-year contract at Saints in June 2023 but is already set to extend those terms even further.

Saints manager Russell Martin has spent one year with the club (Image: PA)

The Athletic reported that Saints are in talks with Martin over a new contract on improved terms.

Several media outlets then reported that an agreement had been struck, with the Daily Echo also able to confirm this.

Reports suggest the new deal will also be for three years and take him up to 2027 - an additional year on his current terms.

Martin's side went on a club-record 25-match unbeaten run on their way to finishing fourth in the Championship last season.

Director of football Jason Wilcox was instrumental in the hiring of Martin but has since departed to become technical director at Manchester United.

Club CEO Phil Parsons remains impressed with the job Martin has done in the pair's first seasons at Saints.

He told the Daily Echo: "We've faced obstacles off the pitch, but I'm grateful to our staff for their hard work to try and help improve things around the club."

Chairman Henrik Kraft confirmed to the Daily Echo ahead of the trip to Wembley that Martin would have remained manager regardless of the result.