Southampton Part Ways With Manager Russell Martin

Southampton have sacked manager Russell Martin following Sunday’s 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur.

The defeat, in which Spurs scored all five of their goals in the first half, was Southampton’s 13th in the 16 Premier League games they have played this season, leaving them nine points from safety.

Having seen Wolves sack manager Gary O’Neil earlier in the day (the former Bournemouth manager paid the price for a fourth successive Premier League defeat against Ipswich Town on Saturday), the Saints have opted to tighten the trigger themselves, eliminating Martin from the team. position he had held for 18 months.

“We can confirm that we have made the difficult decision to part ways with our men’s first team manager, Russell Martin,” read a statement from Southampton. “At the start of the season, we all knew the challenges we would face this year as we readjusted to life in the top flight, competing in the best and most competitive league in the world.

“However, the reality of our situation is clear. The board has been supportive of Russell and his staff and has been open and transparent about our expectations. We have all been on the same page in recognizing the urgency of needing results to improve.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank Russell and his staff for all the hard work and dedication they have given the club on and off the field over the last 18 months. “Everyone connected with Southampton FC will always have fantastic memories from last season, especially the play-off final win in May.

After confirming the appointment of under-21 coach Simon Rusk on an interim basis, the Saints added: “Behind the scenes, we are encouraged by the continued development of talent coming through our Academy. We are proud of the contributions that our young players are doing and we are confident that this will continue to be a source of strength and pride for everyone associated with the club.

“We are also deeply grateful for the continued support and positivity shown by our fans. We witness first-hand the significant gap between the Championship and the Premier League, but their understanding and passion, even when the results have not been what everyone “We want to continue promoting our long-term commitment to the club.”