Martin signs new three-year deal at Southampton

Russell Martin has signed a new three-year deal at Southampton.

The head coach, appointed in June 2023, took the Saints back to the Premier League at the first attempt, beating Leeds 1-0 in the Championship play-off final.

Assistant Matt Gill, first-team coach Carl Martin and goalkeeping coach Dean Thornton have also agreed fresh contracts.

First-team coach Colin Calderwood, sports scientist Rhys Owen and analyst Ben Parker have signed new deals too.

Martin said: "I'm really grateful to the owners and to Phil [Parsons, chief executive]. 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 - and I'm really looking forward to continuing the journey, because it's been an amazing year."

Former Norwich captain Martin joined on an initial three-year deal from Swansea and guided Southampton to a club-record 25 game unbeaten run between September and February, eventually finishing fourth in the Championship.

They beat West Brom 3-1 on aggregate in their play-off semi-final before Adam Armstrong's first-half winner at Wembley earned them a top-flight return.

Martin added: "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.' It's all been tied up pretty quickly and I'm really excited about the season ahead."

Martin started his managerial career at MK Dons in 2019 and moved to Swansea in August 2021, finishing 15th and 10th in his two seasons in south Wales.

Preparing for his first season as a Premier League boss, he has made two free transfer signings, Adam Lallana from Brighton and Charlie Taylor from Burnley, while Taylor Harwood-Bellis' loan from Manchester City became permanent after promotion.

Southampton have also made a bid for Bournemouth's Max Aarons, which is set to be rejected.