Thu Dec 23, 2021 8:01 am
Speaking ahead of his side's clash with Millwall, Martin said the decision has left him and his players frustrated.
"I’m sad about it for our supporters," he said. "Frustrated for our supporters. Sad in general at the way the world’s been for the last two years. It’s not normal but it’s becoming normal.
"Lockdowns and restrictions when we’re told one jab for freedom, two jabs for freedom, now you need a booster. We can’t have fans but they can travel to the away games on Boxing Day. Just sad and frustrated, like a lot of people, by the whole saga."
Incredibly, while fans on this side of the border won't be able to watch games at the Swansea.com Stadium, travelling members of the Jack Army will still be allowed to watch their team at The Den on Boxing Day, with the clash against the Lions currently set to go ahead as planned.
"There’s so much contradiction in rules," he added.
"So much change. We have to look at the science and what people are predicting, but there’s so much information out there and you don’t know what’s misinformation and what’s not.
"I’m disappointed we’re not going to have supporters in and the fact we can take supporters to London on Saturday, where I’m pretty sure there’s lot more cases than there are where we’re based, doesn’t make a huge amount of sense. But as I said. It is what it is and we get on with it. We look forward to having our supporters back in whenever we’re told to do so."
Two members of the Swans squad have already tested positive ahead of the trip to south London, but the impact of the rising number of Covid cases could well have an impact on what may be possible during the January window, which was likely to be a key opportunity for Martin to further mould his squad.
"We had very little time when we came in. There were three weeks left in the transfer window an we had to work out what we had in the building – who was going to fit it and suit us and who wasn’t going to play so much.
"Then we had to get the new guys to fit in. It was all very difficult and this January was supposed to be easier with all the planning and clarity backed up by data.
"With the new restrictions people are going to be a lot more cautious than they were and it was already a cautious market because of all the implications of last season.
"We have tried to plan for every eventuality and we have some contingency plans. It has taken a lot of hours of conversation and arguing to get to this point.