Ex-Swansea and MK Dons boss faces 4-week deadline to avoid becoming first Premier League manager sacked

Russell Martin finds himself in a precarious position at Southampton, with just four weeks to save his job, Soccernet.football reports.

The 38-year-old, who took over the reins 14 months ago, led the Saints to an impressive promotion back to the Premier League last season.

However, the early stages of this campaign have been anything but smooth, with the club losing all three of their opening matches.

According to a report from FootballInsider, the former Swansea and MK Dons boss has been given a short timeframe to turn things around.

Southampton currently sit 19th in the Premier League table, separated from the bottom by goal difference alone, having managed just one goal so far.

Their first loss came in a 1-0 loss to Newcastle United on the opening day, despite the Magpies playing with ten men while their most recent was a 3-1 defeat to Brentford.

The club’s hierarchy is understandably concerned and expects Martin to tighten up the team’s performance.

However, the manager remains firm on his philosophy and approach, which could create tension between him and the club’s decision-makers.

Despite the looming threat, Martin, whose contract extends to the end of the 2025-26 season, is not willing to compromise his style.

He faces a tough run of fixtures, with Southampton set to host Manchester United and Chelsea at St. Mary’s Stadium, sandwiched between an EFL Cup clash with Everton, before traveling to take on Bournemouth.

With an average of 1.79 points per game over his 58 matches in charge, Martin has shown he can deliver results, but the clock is ticking, and the pressure is mounting on the young manager to prove he belongs in the Premier League.