Matt Le Tissier shares ‘great’ reaction after Southampton sack Russell Martin
Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier has reacted to the club sacking manager Russell Martin, saying he had to change a style they “got away with” last season.
The Saints sit at the bottom of the Premier League with just five points from 16 matches and only 11 goals scored—the lowest tally in the division this season.
Martin faced mounting pressure for sticking to a style of play he failed to adapt to the demands of England’s top flight.
This inflexibility frustrated both fans and pundits, culminating in his sacking just hours after a crushing 5-0 defeat to Tottenham last night (15 December).
Former Saints forward Le Tissier took to X to share his thoughts on the inevitable decision. He wrote: “It was a great watch last season under Russell, but if we’re honest, we got away with the way we played because of the quality of the opposition at times”.
He added: “Always thought we’d need to adapt our style of play a little bit with the upgrade in the standard of opponent in the PL, but sadly we didn’t. Wish Russell all the best in his next venture”.
Southampton need a replacement ready for the relegation battle
Football Insider opinion
There is already a daunting nine-point gap for the South Coast club to climb out of the relegation zone.
Interest in a new manager is high, with Football Insider exclusively reporting that West Brom coach Carlos Corberán is the leading contender for the position. However, any prospective manager must be prepared to face the immediate and intense threat of relegation.
Despite fans’ growing discontent with Martin, whose relationship with the supporters has rapidly deteriorated, players like Taylor Harwood-Bellis have publicly expressed their gratitude to the former manager.
Harwood-Bellis, who joined the club permanently last summer [BBC Sport] after helping secure promotion, remains a vital player for any new coach to rely upon.
With the hectic festive fixture period fast approaching, securing a permanent manager as quickly as possible is imperative—especially if the club hopes to avoid further dropped points.
In other news, Southampton and two other clubs are fighting to sign a 19-year-old defender.
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