Southampton and Wolves sack their managers

Southampton sacked manager Russell Martin shortly after his side’s 5-0 drubbing at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday left them rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table.

The humiliating defeat, in which Spurs scored five times in the first half, left Southampton on five points from 16 matches.

Martin was the second Premier League manager sacked on Sunday after second-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers parted company with Gary O’Neil.

“The reality of our situation is clear. The board have supported Russell and his staff and been open and transparent regarding our expectations,” a club statement read.

“We have all been on the same page in recognising the urgency of needing results to improve.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank Russell and his staff for all the hard work and dedication they have given the club on and off the pitch over the last 18 months.”

The 38-year-old Martin was booed during his side’s capitulation against Tottenham and missed the fifth goal as he had already gone to the changing rooms.

Martin was appointed in June 2023 and guided Southampton to promotion via the playoffs last season, earning plaudits for his side’s attractive style of football.

This season, however, they have been brutally exposed in the top flight, losing 13 of their opening 16 games and seemingly on course for a quick return to the second tier.

Only one team in Premier League history has had fewer points after 16 games of the season.

After the defeat by Spurs, defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis said the players should take the blame.

“(The fans) want to see the team win, so it’s normal. The booing should be on us players and not the manager. He’s not creating the mistakes,” Harwood-Bellis said.

“It is us on the pitch. But they just want to see the team win. Credit to them, they stuck with us after a first half that wasn’t acceptable.”

Four Premier League managers have been sacked this season with Steve Cooper leaving Leicester City and Dutchman Erik ten Hag being dismissed by Manchester United.

Relegation-threatened Wolves sack manager O’Neil after losing run

Wolverhampton Wanderers have sacked manager Gary O’Neil, the Premier League club announced on Sunday after a winless run left them stranded in the relegation zone and four points adrift of safety.

Wolves are 19th in the table with nine points after a 2-1 home loss to Ipswich Town on Saturday extended their losing streak to four league games, with just two wins from 16 matches this season.

They have conceded a league-worst 40 goals and have also struggled with off-field issues, with Mario Lemina being stripped of the captaincy after an altercation with West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen.

“Wolves have parted company with head coach Gary O’Neil and his backroom staff,” the club said in a statement.

Wolves’ next game is away at Leicester City on Dec. 22, with tough fixtures coming up against Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur later this month.

Wolves failed to record a win in their opening 10 league games but successive victories over Southampton and Fulham last month appeared to have eased the pressure to an extent.

However, four straight defeats in their last four games led to O’Neil’s sacking, which came just days after club chairman Jeff Shi had thrown his support behind the manager amid fierce criticism from fans.

“We’re very grateful to Gary for all of his effort, dedication and hard work during his time at the club, and we wish him and his team the best of luck for the future,” Shi said.

Former Bournemouth boss O’Neil, who was under contract until 2026, was appointed by Wolves just before the start of last season after Spaniard Julen Lopetegui, now at West Ham United, parted ways with the club because of disputes with the board.

The Midlands club finished 14th last season, the club’s worst position since they were promoted in 2018.

Englishman O’Neil recorded 20 wins, 11 draws and 32 defeats in 63 games in charge of Wolves. He is the third Premier League manager to be sacked this season after Steve Cooper and Erik ten Hag.