Russell Martin was given two key remits when he was appointed as Swansea City boss.
“When it became clear we would be looking for a new head coach, at the forefront of our thoughts was finding a candidate who was ambitious, driven and with a clear vision of how he wants the team to play," said chief executive Julian Winter last summer.
“We were also seeking someone with a passion for working with and developing young players. Russell ticks all those boxes."
READ MORE: Why Swansea City have played most pre-season games behind closed doors
From day one, the style box was emphatically ticked as the Swans swiftly set about implementing the former MK Dons manager's bold methods. Crucially, particularly from a financial perspective, Martin has proven he can create assets.
The 36-year-old was clearly disappointed to lose Flynn Downes to West Ham United this month, although the midfielder's £9m departure in a deal that could rise to £14m with add-ons was vital in helping the club to remain financially stable.
Ultimately, Martin is determined to deliver positive results while the aim is for the Swans to return to the Premier League. And following the departure of Downes, the head coach has cited his time at MK Dons - who have recently sold players including Andy Fisher, Harry Darling, Scott Twine and Matt O'Riley for significant profits - as a key factor in his move to Swansea.
"The remit is for us to try to bring success on the pitch," he told WalesOnline. "If you look at what we did at our previous club and how we did things with a really young team and a young squad. The return on the investment they got there I think was one of the reasons we were highlighted as a potential option for this football club.
"We're just grateful to be here. We absolutely love it. The players have been absolutely brilliant in pre-season, even the ones who have been a bit uncertain about their futures. They given us everything they've got. That's all you can ever ask. We're just looking forward to the season now."
Martin revealed the exit of Downes puts Swansea in a significantly stronger position to keep hold of their other key stars this summer. You can read more on that here.
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