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When Southampton could actually sack Russell Martin as fresh update now revealed

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Southampton boss Russell Martin is walking on thin ice after his side’s latest capitulation at the hands of relegation rivals Leicester City.

Southampton saw a two-goal lead get overturned last weekend following Ryan Fraser’s red card with Jordan Ayew scoring a 98th-minute winner.

The outcome of the game could have been completely different if Paul Onuachu was awarded a penalty after Ayew dragged his shirt in the area but referee Anthony Taylor waved the claims away.

Russell Martin was left seething by how his side threw away a comfortable lead but the 38-year-old was partly to blame for their downfall.

He made the completely wrong substitution, taking off Yukinari Sugawara for Fraser and failed to go more defensive to see out the game.

Despite failing to win any of their first eight games, Martin still commands the faith of the Southampton board but depending on results in the coming weeks, that could soon change.

Arsenal FC v Southampton FC - Premier League
Photo by Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images

When Southampton could sack Russell Martin

HITC Journalist Graeme Bailey has told Southampton FC News that, despite commanding the belief of the board, they won’t allow this landslide of defeats to continue for too much longer.

Martin could be given till the international break to try turn the situation around but if results don’t improve on a game-by-game basis, he could face the axe.

“He is under pressure, not getting away from it – we have know that for weeks – the owner has not been too happy with the start of the season, but the belief is that the players are still on the side of the manager,” Bailey said.

“They won’t let it go on for too long, but as it stands it seems they will get to the international break, it probably is going to be a game-to-game basis at this point.”

Southampton play three Premier League fixtures before the next international break in November, including Saturday’s trip to Manchester City and relegation six-pointers against Wolves and Everton.

  • Saturday 26th October
    Premier League
    • Man CityManchester City

      15:00

      SouthamptonSouthampton

  • Saturday 2nd November
    Premier League
    • SouthamptonSouthampton

      15:00

      EvertonEverton

  • Saturday 9th November
    Premier League
    • WolvesWolves

      15:00

      SouthamptonSouthampton

Failure to take a win from either of the two matches after Man City, and the Saints will be given no other choice but to sack Martin and bring someone else in to try to salvage their season.

Who could replace Martin?

The prime candidate to take over at St Mary’s has to be someone who is an expert at leading teams to survival after looking destined to go down.

Southampton are currently joint bottom of the Premier League and depending on how their trip to the Etihad goes, likely resulting in a loss, the Saints could be cut adrift.

Therefore, Sport Republic must already have a replacement in mind, and David Moyes should be the ideal candidate to lead Southampton to survival.

Fresh from a successful stint at West Ham, where he won the Europa Conference League and challenged for Europe, Moyes is a survival expert and could be the ideal manager for the short term.

That said, it all depends on whether dragging a team from the bottom appeals to the Scotsman after what he achieved in East London.