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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Ian Mitchelmore

Russell Martin wants his Swansea City contract sorted one way or another with summer recruitment currently in limbo

Russell Martin admits clarity around his contract situation is vital for Swansea City ahead of what could prove to be a pivotal summer for the club.

The head coach is now more than halfway through his three-year deal with the Swans and has regularly stated his desire to extend his stay with the club.

His agent has previously held discussions with Swansea's chief executive Julian Winter, although the situation is yet to be resolved with fewer than three months of his second season at the club remaining.

READ MORE: Swansea City news as star lays down big marker, Bony signing snag emerges and Swans hero hangs up boots

It comes as players including Ryan Manning, Joel Latibeaudiere and Kyle Naughton see their contracts expire in June which means the Swans could need another significant rebuild in the summer transfer window.

And Martin believes a resolution, one way or another, on the situation of the club's coaching staff would benefit the club as a whole.

“We are 18 months in now. I hope we get a lot longer to keep building it," he said. "I hope there’s an understanding of the bigger picture and what's going on here.

“I really feel that if we are allowed time to build and to keep improving, we will be successful at some point.

"We'll keep working really hard, we'll keep loving what we're doing. We enjoy it so much here and we love the people we're doing it with. I can't control that really.

"I know that my agent and Julian have had discussions previously. I don't think there's been a huge amount since. We don't sit here stressing about it. At some point people will want a bit more clarity on what's going to go on, I think that'll be players more than anything. I do think we have a group of players that really believe in what we're doing right now.

"I think it would help to have more clarity and certainty in terms of recruitment ahead of the summer, but, again, it's not my job to give myself a new contract so we won't stress about it.

"Would we stay? There'd have to be a lot of things to understand, but we're really invested in a long-term project here. The staff around me would love some clarity and certainty around that and the chance to keep building.

"We'll just keep working and enjoying it. We'll focus on what we can control which is the day-to-say stuff, what we can give the players and the energy we give it.

"We're so happy here. What we have here is really something to savour and hold on to. Players can be vulnerable and be themselves. There's no hierarchy, everyone's together, everyone can be really honest with each other. Anyone who comes in can feel that.

"As long as we can keep enjoying that and keep building on that, we'll be really happy. The rest is external. I can't control it so I won't stress about it.

"Would I like that to get sorted at some point? Of course. I think we all would. Would it help the club to move forward and carry on doing what we're doing and improve what we're doing? Yeah I think it would. But it's not up to me. We'll have to wait and see."

Swansea have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the trip to Blackburn Rovers this weekend.

Martin is likely to make changes to his squad given the short turnaround between their upcoming fixture at Ewood Park and their 2-1 triumph over Blackpool at the Swansea.com Stadium on Wednesday night.

"We've got some tired bodies as you'd expect but everyone will be ready and raring to go," added the head coach.

"It's three games in six days so we've got to utilise the squad over the next two games, we've got a few players who haven't played for a while that came back into the team.

"I think we're really comfortable with whoever we put on the pitch tomorrow, we'll be ready and recovered in time.

"Everyone seems good. Matty [Sorinola] was physically really tired, he put in a massive shift for 85 minutes or so. Luke Cundle hasn't started a game for a while and did brilliantly and we've got players who play every week who looked a bit tired towards the end, so it's been all about recovery and putting a team on the pitch that will give us the most energy on Saturday at Blackburn."

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