Brighton have become famous for their forward planning under the ownership of Tony Bloom and it appears as though Southampton manager Russell Martin is the man they have in mind to succeed Roberto De Zerbi at the Amex.
According to several sources, the Albion spoke to Martin during the international break. That would suggest they are preparing themselves for De Zerbi to depart this summer.
The Italian has cut an increasingly frustrated figure as the 2023-24 season has gone on. He has not been shy of criticising the club’s transfer business.
According to De Zerbi, talks on a new contract have stalled because he needs to believe that Bloom’s ambition matches his own.
De Zerbi has also been linked with the soon-to-be-vacant managerial jobs at Liverpool and Bayern Munich.
Whether he moves onto bigger and better things, resigns out of frustration or Bloom gets rid as he did when Gus Poyet continually griped against the club in public, there are numerous reasons why De Zerbi will not be at the Amex for the 2024-25 season.
Martin has been highly thought of by Brighton for some time. WAB were told during the middle of the Graham Potter Era that Martin had climbed to number one on Bloom’s list of future head coaches.
By the time Glow Up and his merry band of snakes slithered off to Chelsea, Martin’s stock must have fallen as De Zerbi became the Albion’s preferred target to take over from Potter.
But after helping to rebuild Southampton following their relegation from the Premier League last season and putting them firmly in the Championship promotion race, Martin would appear back in vogue.
His Saints side set a club-record of 25 games unbeaten in all competitions between September and February, whilst also leading the way in the Championship possession table.
It is not just possession-obsession which makes Martin look a good fit for Brighton. Southampton went viral for a goal they scored against Watford in the FA Cup, a six-pass move starting with goalkeeper Joe Lumley calmly playing out from the back under pressure which ended 17 seconds later with the ball in the back of the Hornets net.
If it sounds like Brighton playing the glorious DeZerbiBall of last season, that is because it is. The madcap world of the Championship though means that not even thrilling football and long unbeaten runs guarantees success.
Southampton currently sit fourth in the table with the automatic promotion spots 12 points away. Should the Saints miss out on automatic promotion, then Martin’s CV is not one which would attract many Premier League clubs.
He has led MK Dons to 19th and 13th places in League One, followed by 15th and 10th finishes with Swansea City in the Championship prior to his summer move to Southampton.
Bloom though looks beyond what a manager – or player – has achieved. De Zerbi arrived with little more than a Ukrainian Super Cup to his name because data and algorithms led Bloom to his door.
Eight months later and De Zerbi delivered Brighton’s highest ever finish and European football for the first time in the club’s history.
Not that it will necessarily have any bearing on the appointment process, but Martin is also Sussex-born-and-bred. He was with the Albion’s youth setup as a player until leaving age 18 in 2004.
His Russell Martin Academy meanwhile provides football coaching and opportunities for countless children across Brighton & Hove.
Nobody can see for certain what the next couple of months will bring. De Zerbi could end up staying if interest in his services dries up or Bloom promises him a summer spending spree to help Brighton better compete for a European spot.
Martin though seems certain to be one of the strongest candidates to succeed De Zerbi, whenever that time comes.
