Russell Martin has been sacked as Southampton supervisor after the Premier League’s backside membership’s heavy 5-0 defeat by Tottenham proved the ultimate act of his reign.

Having guided the membership’s return to the highest division by way of final season’s Championship playoffs, beating Leeds within the remaining, Martin has struggled since Southampton’s promotion. He leaves Saints backside of the Premier League on 5 factors from 16 matches.

On Sunday, as his staff conceded 5 first-half targets, Saints followers sang songs criticising Martin’s type of play, and St Mary’s emptied as supporters voted with their ft, many leaving the stadium after Pape Sarr scored Tottenham’s fourth aim within the twenty fifth minute.

A membership assertion conveyed the information that grew to become inevitable throughout that first-half efficiency. It learn: ”We are able to verify that we’ve got taken the tough resolution to half methods with our males’s first staff supervisor, Russell Martin.”

The assertion continued: “Going into the beginning of the season, all of us knew the challenges that we’d face this 12 months as we readjusted to life within the high flight, competing in the most effective and best league on the earth. Nonetheless, the truth of our state of affairs is evident. The board have supported Russell and his employees and been open and clear relating to our expectations. We’ve all been on the identical web page in recognising the urgency of needing outcomes to enhance.”

In a post-match interview, Martin, 38, requested if he anticipated the followers to get their want of his departure, stated: “Not a clue, mate. Not a clue. You’re asking the improper individual. I’ve accomplished nothing however battle in my life and my profession, so, we’ll maintain working and maintain combating till I’m advised I’m not going to any extra.”

Martin’s dedication to an open and attacking type, asking defenders to convey the ball ahead, has malfunctioned repeatedly within the greater echelon, however the former Swansea supervisor, who joined Saints in the summertime of 2023, remained unrepentant about his strategy.

Southampton confirmed that their under-21s supervisor, Simon Rusk, will step up on an interim foundation whereas they choose a everlasting substitute.

Earlier than the information was introduced, Martin stated he understood followers’ reactions. “After I put my ego into it as a supervisor, it hurts quite a bit as a result of we work so laborious each single day, but it surely’s not private. I don’t know them, they don’t know me. It’s a criticism of the job I’m doing, I perceive.”