MK Dons fans are saying the same thing after Russell Martin quits to join Swansea City

Swansea City have appointed MK Dons boss Russell Martin as Head Coach to replace Steve Cooper.

Martin had a 103 game-spell with the Dons, rescuing them from relegation before stabilising them in 13th last campaign.

His appointment comes after a managerial quest lasting 12 days, despite the fact John Eustace was already in talks with the Swans before Cooper’s exit.

Jody Morris, Frank Lampard and Chris Wilder were also mentioned but Dons boss Martin was chosen with a rumoured £400,000 compensation fee.

Prost International spoke to several MK fans after the appointment, less than a week until the new EFL season begins.

What were your initial reactions to Martin’s appointment at MK Dons?

@Calstagram123: “When Dons signed Russell Martin, the club wasn’t in a great way. We had come up from League Two and the previous manager Paul Tisdale wasn’t really getting the results he needed to.

Martin, a player and leader at the time, stepped up as his replacement and I wasn’t hopeful. He had no experience but he was very successful in his first season in keeping us up.”

@SamTurton3: ” We were all a bit mixed about it. He had basically taken over from Tisdale who got us up and we thought it was the cheap/easy option.”

What style of play does he implement in his teams?

Sam: “Pass, pass, pass. Possession is key with the style. It can get frustrating, and sometimes you will be screaming for a long shot or a route one but it seems to work.

“The opposition will ultimately be more frustrated in the end. Other managers we’ve had have used the same style before (Robinson and Di Matteo) but his seems slower and more methodical.”

Callum: “We called it ‘RussBall’. Possession-based football with the keeper and defence being good on the ball and distributing from the back to the midfield and eventually to the strikers.

He usually plays a 3-5-2 with two wingbacks in the five to add to the midfield. A strong centre-back to dribble out with the ball and find the midfield is a strong part of the team.”

Do you think he could translate his style at a higher level?

Callum: “With the right set of players, I think he could but he isn’t an instant fix and it takes time for the team to learn how he plays. I think eventually he can translate it at a higher level but it could depend on the players that he has on hand and can bring in.”

Sam: “Yes and no. Sometimes bigger teams and clever footballers have worked us out quicker than League One level. He is a manager who has needed heavy investment to get exactly the players he wants. If he can get that it might work.”

Do you think he will succeed at Swansea City?

Sam: “Probably BUT he will need time. His catchphrase became ‘trust the process’ (ironic given he didn’t finish the process with us).

“We genuinely thought we were going down at one point in his first season and if it hadn’t been for the lockdown we might have. Even last season we still weren’t the finished article. If he is given time then it’s possible. I think most clubs probably would have got rid of him a lot earlier. He is not a quick fix manager, and he won’t be able to sort things in weeks. It will likely be next season (if he’s still there) that you will see the changes.”

Callum: “I think he could succeed at Swansea given time but with the club just missing out on promotion last year, I’m not sure whether the fans will warm to him quickly and will need to give him time as I can’t see him being an instant fix.”

Martin takes charge of training tomorrow with his staff, in preparation for the Swans’ opener against Blackburn Rovers.

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