Russell Martin’s stance on accepting Leicester City offer revealed
Russell Martin is among the leading candidates to take over at Leicester City after they finally pulled the trigger on Marti Cifuentes’ time in charge.
Leicester considered appointing Martin during the summer before moving forward with Cifuentes, while the latter was ultimately hired and then fired by Rangers.
The former Southampton boss remains highly thought of at the King Power Stadium, and his previous Championship exploits could see him land the job.
Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Martin is keen to return to English football and has been in the running for a number of jobs.
Now, he hopes he will be a contender for Leicester as they set their sights on their next permanent manager sooner than they would have initially hoped.
Russell Martin emerges as Leicester City candidate
Leicester have placed first-team coach Andy King in interim charge of the team in order to buy themselves time to get their next appointment right.
There is a feeling that the Foxes would like to appoint an experienced option, with Martin the favourite for Leicester as he would fit that bill after his promotion with Southampton.
“Apparently, Russell Martin is one of the candidates for Leicester,” Brown told Football Insider.
“He’s been linked with a move back to the Championship for a while now, it’s something he wants to do and this would be an opportunity for that to happen.
“Leicester looked at him before, and he’s definitely got admirers at the club.
“I think there are a few concerns after what he did in the Premier League with Southampton, playing suicidal football and giving goals away for fun.
“Then he went to Rangers and didn’t have the best time there either, but he’s got a good record in the Championship and that might do him some favours.
“He keeps getting mentioned with jobs, and the right opportunity may finally have come along for him.”
Martin sets sights on a return to the Championship
Leicester are not the first club to consider Martin among their options for a return to Championship football following his dismissal from the Rangers job.
The former Saints boss was sacked after just four months with Rangers as he left the Glasgow outfit with just one win from eight games in the Scottish Premiership.
Football Insider revealed in December that Martin is on the radar of multiple Championship clubs and has opened the door for a return to English football.
Southampton considered re-appointing Martin, while he was also tipped to take over from Liam Manning at Norwich following his dismissal.
Leicester is now seen as the latest opportunity for him to make his return, as he has admirers at the King Power Stadium despite previously missing out.
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