Martin on coming back to the WSL and how he feeling ahead of the opening game…
“I’m excited. This was the right time to come back, take the next step in my career. I’ve gained valuable experience being away, learning management, managing staff and a Club. We’ve had a really good pre-season, I’ve had a really good opportunity to assess the squad, look at the processes, the staffing, how we do things and to do make sure we can be the most efficient. I’m really excited now.”
On what playing style to expect…
“Passion, desire, commitment. There’ll be a very high intensity off the ball, in terms of aggression, being on the front-foot, defending forward. Then with the ball, being expressive, players can express their personality. We want to be very direct, front-footed, energetic, creative. We need to use the Club’s DNA and identity from a football perspective, make sure we embrace that, and hopefully we’ll do that throughout the season.”
On his first game being at home…
“It's really nice for me to have the first game in front of the fans. Being able to witness what it’s like in terms of the stadium, getting to the game, being able to look at the fans that come out to support, and make sure they want to come back and watch. That comes from performance on the pitch, the playing group and the commitment they give. Away from that, we have to make sure we’re inspiring a new generation of fans. We need those fans to make sure we take the necessary steps to where we want to go.”
On the standouts during pre-season…
“They’ve all been brilliant, I couldn’t have asked any more. A change in playing style, identity, coach, process can be challenging for everyone, staff included, but the players have embraced everything we’ve done. They’ve applied themselves correctly, gone above and beyond, the intent, the application… everyone’s doing really well. There’s a lot of talent in this group, it’s for me to bring that out of them and maybe change this in environment has allowed that. I’ve got to make sure that’s maintained throughout the season and beyond.”
On Toko Koga…
“Toko is very young, exciting, going to be a superb player for us. She is capped at international level, which is important, shows the quality she possesses. It’s a new culture, environment, new language for her, so she’s done exceptionally well. I can see that she’s comfortable now, settled well, understands what we require and what this Club is about.”
On his captaincy for the new season…
"Bethany [England] is the captain. Vice-captains, underneath that, will be underpinned by numerous players; Molly [Bartrip], you have got Drew [Spence], Eveliina [Summanen] is there and Olga [Ahtinen] has been around that. But, more importantly for me, it’s something I don’t look at in that way and it’s something I learnt abroad, I don’t like to put a hierarchy in place that it separates each individual. I think everyone can lead in their own way. Bethany will be the captain and she has led the team really well. If she isn’t on the pitch, then another player will lead and Molly has done that in pre-season at times. I usually do it on the feeling I get in the game and the person I want to lead in that moment of the game."
On the work Rehanne Skinner has done at West Ham…
“Rehanne [Skinner] has done a wonderful job. She started to build the legacy for this Women’s team. I’ve been fortunate enough to come in off the back of her and Robert, and try and take this team forward. These games are going to be competitive, West Ham are a wonderful team but we have a good team. We need to make sure we’re the better team, have the better edge and take opportunities when they come. No doubt Rehanne’s going to have them well organised so we need to match that – go above and beyond that.”
Watch | Martin's first press conference in full