Russell Martin is at increasing risk of losing his job as a result of Southampton's sorry start to the season.
The 38-year-old guided the Saints to promotion via the Championship play-offs last term but they now find themselves marooned in the Premier League relegation zone after failing to win any of their opening six matches.
Southampton have just a solitary point to their name ahead of this weekend's showdown with title contenders Arsenal - and another negative result could leave Martin on the brink heading into the upcoming international break.
While the former Swansea City manager has credit in the bank for guiding the club to promotion last season, scrutiny on him is growing. Saints owner Dragan Solak is less than impressed with results, leaving Martin in a precarious position.
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As outlined by talkSPORT, the top brass at St Mary's are 'split' over Martin. While Solak has concerns over results, Martin does retain the support of sporting director Rasmus Ankerson, who headhunted him for the head coach role prior to his arrival last summer.
However, it's claimed that Ankersen himself is also under scrutiny from Solak, who took over the club back in January 2022.
Southampton are the lowest scorers in the Premier League after netting just three goals in their six outings. Arsenal, by contrast, have plundered 12 goals in the same amount of games and are yet to taste defeat as they chase a first title in more than 20 years.
Martin tore into his side and accused them of being "soft" after they were comprehensively beaten 3-1 by Bournemouth on Monday night.
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"They make 20 fouls to our 10 or whatever it is -- I think that sums up the whole game," Martin told Sky Sports after the game. "We were soft. The problem - forget style of play - is if you don't want to run and fight properly, make contact, take things personally, like a duel we didn't come out of the ball at all in the first half, then it's going to be a problem.
"I thought I made enough of a deal about Bournemouth and the way they approached the game and how good they are at certain things, but obviously it wasn't enough, because we looked like we were unprepared for that, which, considering the work we've done is crazy.
"I will never, ever come out of here and blame the group of players, we are together. I didn't like a lot of what I saw, and I was hurt by the lack of spirit and fight. I told them that, that's nothing I haven't said in the dressing room but it's always on the leader and that's my problem to sort out."
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