Martin 'excited' for 2024/25 at Southampton whatever happens

The 38 year old is set to remain in his post even if his side fails to win against Leeds United at Wembley this weekend.

Saints chairman Henrik Kraft confirmed this to the Daily Echo in a new interview, explaining the club's desire for continuity.

Martin led Saints to 87 points but - somehow - that was only enough for fourth place in an unprecedented Championship season.

Asked if he feels he is under pressure to win at Wembley, Martin responded: "I think the pressure is every day in this job.

Southampton have sold 36,900 tickets for Wembley

"Seriously it keeps you humble and it keeps you grateful to be in the job every day that you're in because I love it.

"The pressure is I guess that I will be deemed a huge failure if we don't go up on Sunday, the job that we've done will go down to one game - which is madness.

"In terms of pressure here the owners have been brilliant honestly, Phil (Parsons), the ownership group and Jason (Wilcox) previously before he left.

"They were patient in September when a lot of people were circling and expecting me to be under real pressure, they were amazing.

"I hope I can give them what they deserve on Sunday for how they've been with us and if it doesn't go the way we want to my feeling is I'll be here to keep building.

"The club has a really strong identity and way of doing things throughout the first team and the academy now there's real alignment.

"I think they're enjoying owning the club for the first time since they've come in they were so respectful of the success recently," he added.

"In the first 18 months of owning the club, they didn't want to change too much. Relegation gave them an opportunity to put their stamp on the club.

"Hopefully I've bought some of the stuff they want to bring obviously they want me to bring the Premier League.

"Now is the chance to give them that as well but hopefully, if it doesn't transpire in that way then hopefully we'll still be here and we'll build.

"I'll be excited about doing that and doing it in a different way but hopefully it doesn't come to that and we can win on Sunday." 

Russell Martin will remain Saints manager next season - unless he is poached by a different club!

The Championship playoff final is being billed as a £200million game with the financial rewards of Premier League membership on the line.

CEO Phil Parsons recently launched a defence of Sport Republic, stating how they have invested that much into the club in the last two years.

Martin insists worrying about the money is not his job but accepts it will be on the ownership group's minds for the duration at Wembley.

He admitted: "I think the desperation is to give them justification for appointing me and a reward for choosing us.

"They've been great with us, the supporters and the players in the same way - I think that's where that comes from.

"I'm not there sitting there sleepless nights because it's not my money but maybe they are, although we have a really clear plan for both scenarios.

"Everyone's really clear and comfortable with that and listen it's better for everyone for the club, for the owners, for the players, for the supporters.

"They'd have to do a VAR every week again but it's better for everyone if we get to the Premier League and we win on Sunday.

"The sleepless nights come from caring a lot about the people you are being asked to lead as your job - and I hope that it's enough."