Russell Martin now in running for Championship return as odds narrow on joining London club

Russell Martin has once again been linked with a return to the Championship as further sackings are considered.

Leicester City sacked Marti Cifuentes earlier this month, and the former Rangers boss has been named among the leading candidates to replace him.

The 40-year-old is available after he was sacked in October, following a dismal stint with the Scottish giants.

Martin is among the favourites for the West Brom job, too, with new manager Eric Ramsay already under pressure at The Hawthorns.

West Brom sacked Ryan Mason at the start of the month, but his replacement has led the Baggies to just one point from three games so far.

Russell Martin in race to replace Nathan Jones

Charlton Athletic are expected to be among the Championship clubs to next consider a change in the dugout.

The Addicks have won just one of their previous eight games across all competitions, and have just three league wins since the start of November.

Blackburn Rovers, who are the favourites to sack their manager, Valerien Ismael, are 22nd and just three points behind Charlton.

Ironically, manager Nathan Jones shares some history with Martin in the sense that both managers endured a staggeringly bad stint with Southampton in the Premier League.

The 52-year-old was hired mid-way through the 2022-23 season and handed a three-and-a-half-year contract at St Mary’s Stadium.

However, three months later, and Jones was packing his things after just one Premier League win in eight matches

The Welshman’s time with Charlton has been far more positive, and it was he who guided the Addicks to promotion from League One.

But pressure is rising given the Addicks’ precarious position, and one major bookmaker has Martin at 9/1 to take over at The Valley, should Jones be dismissed.

Gary Rowett leads the race at 4/1, while Lee Bowyer and Tony Mowbray also appear among the contenders.

What Jones said after dismal Millwall display

A turning point was reached for many fans last week when Charlton were crushed 4-0 by Millwall in the South London derby.

Kayne Ramsey’s own goal kicked off the scoring, before Caleb Taylor, Luke Cundle and Aidomo Emakhu added to the visitors’ embarrassment.

Speaking after the game, Jones admitted: “We got outworked, out-battled – they treated it as a derby, we treated it as a day in the sun and we got exactly what we deserved.“

For many fans, frustrations have begun to boil to the surface. Charlton will next take on a managerless Leicester on Saturday, in the hopes of producing the start of a recovery.

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