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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Ian Mitchelmore

Russell Martin still has no contract offer from Swansea City and says transfers hinge on deal clarity

Russell Martin admits clarity around his long-term future at the club will give Swansea City a greater chance of having a successful summer transfer window.

The head coach is poised to enter the final 12 months of his three-year contract with the Swans and, despite holding regular talks with the top brass at the club, is yet to be offered fresh terms to extend his stay in south Wales.

And the 37-year-old has re-iterated that transparency over what lies ahead for himself and his coaching staff will be key to ensuring the club can sufficiently plan for the 2023/24 campaign.

READ MORE: Russell Martin couldn't breathe in Cardiff City mayhem as Swansea City boss reveals 'infamous' fan in away end

"I continue to talk to some of the ownership group on a regular basis as I always have done. We've had chats around it but I haven't been offered a new contract," he said ahead of his side's Championship clash with Coventry City.

"We have a year left. We're really happy here. We'd like nothing more than to stay here and see through loads of the work we feel we've been doing. Moments like Saturday (against Cardiff City) only help strengthen that when you see the people around us how strongly they feel about it.

"But, again, it's out of my hands. Hopefully we can just win more games and we'll see what happens. Either way, in terms of recruitment and planning, as you found with the manager prior to me, going into the last year of a contract and playing in the way we do, and this is not a plea for a new contract, but it's really difficult to get people to sign up to a long-term project when your manager only has one year left on his contract.

"For everyone, it's probably best resolved one way or another. But I'm quite relaxed about that, we'll just have to wait and see."

There was a huge amount of frustration around the club following what was a shambolic January transfer window, with Swansea failing to sign a single player.

Martin - along with directors Jason Levien and Jake Silverstein - have spoken about the need for the club to learn from the mistakes made in previous windows ahead of the summer to ensure the team can be in the best possible place to challenge for promotion next term.

And Martin says the Swans' coaches - himself included - will all have benefitted from their tough run prior to the wins over Cardiff City and Bristol City.

"I think about it all the time but I control very little of that," added the Swans boss when asked about the summer. "There's constant conversations with Julian (Winter) and Josh (Marsh), they'll speak to the ownership and see where we're at.

"We feel we know what we need. I really feel we've been two or three pieces away from being really close to achieving something this season.

"We've got more clarity than ever. What the last two or three months have brought us is a huge amount of learning. I'll be a much better head coach for this period, Gilly (Matt Gill), Dean (Thornton), Kris (O'Leary) will all be better.

"It's reinforced so many things for us. We've learned so much about ourselves and the energy we need to keep going.

"The summer's really big for the club. I hope that we are able to help that by finishing the season strongly and influence that in a positive way."

Meanwhile, Martin revealed the Swans have no fresh injury concerns ahead of Good Friday's Championship clash with Coventry City. Kick-off is at 3pm.

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