Opinion: Swansea City could soon be facing a huge Russell Martin decision | OneFootball

There seems to be a growing feeling of discontent from Swansea City head coach Russell Martin following the club’s failure to recruit in the January transfer window.

The Swans did not sign a single player last month, despite Martin stressing the need for reinforcements. According to the BBC, Martin was keen to sign a wide player and a forward, with a goalkeeper also on his wish list following Steven Benda’s season-ending injury.

Martin reportedly had a number of targets in mind, with the BBC claiming that Chiedozie Ogbene, Josh Key, Cody Drameh, Malcolm Ebiowei, Sorba Thomas, Joe Gelhardt, Harry Cornick and Ashley Barnes were all on his radar, while a last-minute loan deal for West Bromwich Albion striker Karlan Grant fell through.

The 36-year-old denied rumours he was set to quit the club in an extraordinary press conference prior to Saturday’s 4-3 defeat to Birmingham City at the Swansea.com Stadium, bringing 17 members of his backroom staff into the room as an attempt to show togetherness.

Indeed Martin told the BBC that the idea of departing the .club was not one that had crossed his mind in any way.

But despite Martin’s insistence that he will not walk away, it is clear to see there are significant problems and most of his frustrations seem to revolve around the lack of transfer activity.

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The truth is that these types of scenarios do not usually end well. There are similarities with the situation involving Scott Parker at Bournemouth in the Premier League earlier in the season, where Parker repeatedly publicly complained he felt his squad was not strong enough and resulting in him being sacked following a poor start to the campaign.

Parker did not resign from his position, but he gave the impression of a manager who wanted to be put out of his misery and it is hard not to feel that Martin is in the same territory currently.

There is no doubt that Martin is right in his assessment that the Swans needed to strengthen and he has been let down by the board, while he has done a commendable job on the pitch overall despite recent poor form.

But if his relationship with the club’s board continues to deteriorate and if the fall-out continues to be played out publicly, then that will inevitably have a negative impact on the players, although it could be argued to already be doing so with the club on a run of just two league wins since the end of October.

The Swans cannot afford to lose further ground on the play-offs after their late collapse against the Blues, where they ended up losing the game despite being 3-2 up in the 90th minute.

Martin said after the game that “he has never felt so low” and revealed that “he has not had much sleep” since Friday’s press conference, underlining the impact that recent events have taken on him.

It is hard not to feel sympathy for Martin and he is a manager with plenty of potential who will go on to have an excellent future, but both parties may soon have to decide whether a mutual parting of ways is the best option.