Even before their poor transfer period, it will always be a struggle to keep Southampton in the Premier League.
Last year, technical director Jason Wilcox, a massive advocate for Manchester United, left the former head coach last year without important allies and critical support.
Southampton returned to the Premier League without replacing the Wilcox well.
He was dissatisfied with his ownership as Phil Parsons, the CEO who joined Dyson in July 2023, and his limited experience in the game, and the club struggled to move quickly enough to get the deal done last summer.
The goal of the season was to avoid relegation and build team value. This is what we did with the advent of Tyler Diving. Even if the reported £100 million valuation is not achieved.
Martin became MK Dons Manager in 2019 and had a style of playstyle based on patient ownership that he had implemented since continuing at Swansea.
That was what he appealed to Southampton, and why they decided to take him out of the swan after being demoted in 2023.
“Every team we had looked similar, but we had to find another way,” he said after losing to the wolves in November.
“In MK Don, we had two strong, strong centre forwards, so we found a way to play two strikers and score goals. Swansea had no wingers so we had to play defenders and midfielders.
“Last season we had so many offensive power for the championship, we scored a lot of goals.
“Right now they do what we were told in terms of having so many balls in the Premier League, but last year they have to have the same mentality.
“No matter which style you have, the game is about beating your opponent and dominating them, and we haven’t done enough.”
Criticism of style came when the saint struggled and the toxic atmosphere at St. Mary’s in the final weeks.
Mistakes have happened too often. The tone is set by an error from goalkeeper Alex McCarthy and presents the winner in a 1-0 opening day victory at Newcastle in August.
But if Martin had survived the storm, it was difficult yesterday in a football culture that demands everything – perhaps he was the perfect person to take on the challenge of promotion.
It could have been how psychologically hurt the squad and the club were relegated, and while it’s a fantastical proposal, the pedigree was there.
