By kickspoll 
Southampton boss Russell Martin is on thin ice after a difficult start to the Premier League season, which worsened with a 3-2 loss to Leicester City on Saturday. However, talkSPORT presenter Jim White has stated that Martin still has ‘firm’ support from the club’s south coast owners, despite the pressure on his tenure.
Southampton has only secured one point from their first seven games this season, a last-minute draw with Ipswich Town. Things looked promising when they went 2-0 up against Leicester, but a late collapse saw Jordan Ayew score the winner, leaving fans stunned.
## Russell Martin ‘Still Has Ownership Backing’ at Southampton
There have been reports that Martin is the favorite for the sack across the Premier League, but White claims Martin still has a chance to turn things around. Speaking on talkSPORT, White said:
“It’s my understanding that sources close to the ownership tell me that support for Russell [Martin] stands firm. The ownership model is a ten-year project that began last year. While they believe time is running out, there is still time to work on improvements.
“The main task for Martin is to keep his players believing in him, and that’s where his focus should be.”
## Southampton’s Premier League Statistics for 2024/25
– **Goals scored:** 6 (18th)
– **Goals conceded:** 18 (19th)
– **Shots per game:** 11.3 (15th)
– **Shots conceded per game:** 17.5 (18th)
– **xG:** 12.18 (13th)
Southampton’s next matches are crucial, including a tough away trip to Manchester City followed by potential relegation battles with Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers. If Martin fails to pick up points in these fixtures, the Saints face a difficult run of games leading up to Christmas, with opponents such as Liverpool, Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Brighton. Martin must rally his players to avoid the threat of relegation.