Southampton Football Club has parted ways with manager Russell Martin, following a dismal 5-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. This loss, their 13th in 16 Premier League games, left the Saints nine points adrift of safety.
Martin, 38, led Southampton to promotion last season, defeating Leeds United in the play-off final. However, their Premier League return has been marred by struggles. With only one win, against Everton in November, and a league-low 11 goals, the writing was on the wall.
“Going into the season, we recognized the challenges. The reality is clear. We’ve supported Russell and staff, but results haven’t improved,” said a Southampton statement. “We thank Russell for his dedication and hard work.”
Simon Rusk, Southampton’s Under-21 manager, takes interim charge. His first game will be a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Liverpool.
Martin’s dismissal coincides with Wolves sacking Gary O’Neil. Frustration among fans boiled over during the Spurs game, with chants directed at Martin and owners Sport Republic.
