Southampton boss ready to put Gary O'Neil friendship to one side
Southampton boss Russell Martin is relishing going up against former team-mate Gary O’Neil in opposite dugouts when his side head to Wolves looking to build on a first Premier League win.
The Saints travel to Molineux having finally got a victory on the board after 10 games, beating Everton 1-0 with a late goal from Adam Armstrong at St Mary’s.
Former Scotland defender Martin, 38, played alongside O’Neil for Norwich, helping the Canaries win promotion to the top flight with victory in the 2015 Championship play-off final at Wembley.
The pair have remained in contact as their careers moved on into coaching, with Martin having started out at MK Dons and then Swansea before leaving to join the Saints, and O’Neil, 41, given his opportunity at Bournemouth ahead of taking on the Wolves hotseat last summer.
Martin believes they share plenty of football philosophies but that friendship will be on hold as both men target all three points, with Wolves yet to register a league win and bottom of the table.
“I had a lot of time for him as a team-mate and as a person. I think he has done a great job,” Martin said.
