Wolves And Southampton Fire Managers After Weekend Losses
English Premier League clubs Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton have parted ways with their head coaches, Gary O’Neil and Russell Martin, following disappointing defeats over the weekend.
O’Neil was dismissed after a dramatic 2-1 loss to Ipswich Town on Saturday at Molineux Stadium. This defeat left Wolves in 19th place in the Premier League table, four points behind 17th-placed Crystal Palace.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Wolves Chairman Jeff Shi said: “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.”
Meanwhile, Southampton have sacked manager Russell Martin following their heavy 5-0 defeat to Tottenham on Sunday.
This result leaves Southampton at the bottom of the Premier League, nine points adrift of safety. Under-21s manager Simon Rusk will step in as interim manager, starting with the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Liverpool on Wednesday.
Martin’s departure was announced by the club less than 90 minutes after the final whistle. Appointed in June 2023, he successfully led Southampton to promotion via the Championship play-offs but has since recorded only one victory and suffered 13 defeats out of 16 Premier League matches.
Below is Southampton’s statement in full:
We can confirm that we have taken the difficult decision to part ways with our men’s first team manager, Russell Martin.
Going into the start of the season, we all knew the challenges that we would face this year as we readjusted to life in the top flight, competing in the best and most competitive league in the world.
However, the reality of our situation is clear. The board have supported Russell and his staff and been open and transparent regarding our expectations. 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.
Everyone connected with Southampton FC will always have fantastic memories of last season, especially the play-off final win in May.
Current U21s manager Simon Rusk will take charge of the team on an interim basis until we announce a permanent replacement.
Behind the scenes, we are encouraged by the continued development of talent coming through our Academy. We are proud of the contributions our young players are making and are confident this will remain a source of strength and pride for everyone associated with the club.
We are also deeply grateful for the continued support and positivity shown by our fans. We are witnessing first-hand the significant gap between the Championship and the Premier League, but your understanding and passion, even when results have not been what we all want, continue to drive our long-term commitment to the club.
More: Pindula News
