Russell Martin at risk of sacking with Southampton board divided over poor start

Southampton's hierarchy are divided over the club's poor start to the season, talkSPORT understands.

Manager Russell Martin is under increasing pressure from owner Dragan Solak after his newly promoted side took just one point from their opening six matches.

saints They are also the ones who obtain the lowest scores on the first division after scoring just three goals and losing 3-1 to south coast rivals Bournemouth on Monday night.

Martin retains the support of sporting director Rasmus Ankersen, who sought out the former Swansea manager and is backing him to turn his fortunes around.

However, sources close to the situation suggest that Ankersen is also facing scrutiny from Serbian billionaire Solak.

The Saints were relegated from the Premier League in 2023 after changing managers twice and making a series of big-ticket signings that did not bear fruit.

Martin guided them back to the top flight at first request through a Championship play-off final victory over Leeds and was rewarded with a new three-year contract in the summer.

The Saints boss also lost a key ally on the board in Jason Wilcox when he resigned from his role as director of football to join Manchester United.

Things are unlikely to improve much when they face title contenders Arsenal on Saturday.

Martin will want a reaction from his players after he attacked them following Monday's loss.

“They commit 20 fouls against our 10 or whatever. I think that sums up the whole game,” Martin told Sky Sports after the match.

“We were soft. The problem, forget about the style of play, is that if you don't want to run and fight properly, make contact, take things personally, like in a duel, we didn't get off the ball at all.” the first half, then it's going to be a problem.

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“I thought I'd done enough of a deal about Bournemouth and the way they approach the game and how good they are at certain things, but obviously it wasn't enough, because it seemed like we weren't prepared for that, which, considering the job we did we have done is crazy.

“I will never leave here and blame the group of players, we are together. I didn't really like what I saw and the lack of spirit and fight hurt me.

“I told them that, that's nothing I haven't said in the locker room, but it always depends on the leader and that's my problem that I have to solve.

Only the Wolves are below the Saints, by virtue of a goal difference worse than one goal.