Russell Martin has officially been announced as the new manager of Southampton after leaving Swansea City.
The 37-year-old has signed a three-year deal with the Saints having agreed terms with the newly relegated club back in May, with a month-long saga to confirm the move finally coming to an end after being drawn out by compensation wrangles.
Martin spent two seasons at Swansea, leading the club to two mid-table finishes and famously completing the first league double over Cardiff City in over a century.
He still had one year left on his Swansea.com Stadium contract, with the Saints reportedly agreeing a huge compensation package of around £1.25m with Swansea. The saga began back in May when he pulled out of a planned trip to America, where he was set for crunch talks with Swansea's owners, before entering talks with the South Coast club.
READ MORE: The players who could now follow Southampton-bound Russell Martin out of the Swansea City exit door
Martin will take charge of Southampton as they play Championship football for the first time in 11 years after they finished rock bottom of the Premier League, winning just six games in a torrid 2022/23 campaign.
As he did when he left MK Dons two years ago, he is set to take his backroom team, including assistant Matt Gill, with him to St Mary's as he sets his sights on taking the club back to the top flight at the first time of asking.
A Swans statement read: "Swansea City can confirm head coach Russell Martin has left the club to join Southampton.
"Martin had a little over 12 months remaining on the three-year deal he signed upon arriving at the Swansea.com Stadium in August 2021.
"The club also stands firm in our belief that we are owed full compensation for Russell, and we will continue working diligently and strategically to protect the best interests of the club.
"Swansea City would like to place on record its thanks to Russell for his work during his time in SA1.
"The club will update supporters regarding a new first-team coaching staff in due course."
Confirming the appointment on Thursday, Southampton FC Chairman, Henrik Kraft, said: “We are extremely excited to welcome Russell to Southampton.
“Russell was the stand-out candidate throughout our recruitment process and we are confident his strong track record, alongside the experienced leadership of our new Director of Football, Jason Wilcox, will deliver great results.”
Martin added:“It’s a privilege to accept this opportunity at Southampton, a club with such a long and rich history.
“My aim is to get this club back where it belongs - in the top flight of English football.
“I am ready for this challenge and will give everything to achieve this aim and to give the supporters a team that makes them proud.
“I’m thrilled to be here and cannot wait for the work to begin.”
But as Martin goes one way, the good news for Swans fans is that his successor has been identified, with the club closing in on Barnsley boss Michael Duff.
Negotiations between Swansea and the Tykes are said to be at an “advanced stage”, but there will be a price to pay if they are to lure the 45-year-old away from the League One club, with ex-Burnley star Duff just over a year into a three-year deal at Oakwell.
The Swans will have to pay a fee of £500,000 to activate his release clause to bring Duff to the Swansea.com Stadium, after the former Northern Ireland international led Barnsley to the League One play-off final in his first season at the club.
The development comes after a long list of potential candidates were rumoured to be replacing Martin, with former Swansea assistant Chris Davies, Plymouth Argyle boss Steve Schumacher and ex-Southampton manager Nathan Jones all suggested to be in contention.
