1 week Ago By [email protected] (Kasra Moradi)
Roy Keane has delivered a scathing assessment of former Southampton boss Russell Martin for refusing to change his tactics. Southampton’s 3-1 defeat to Tottenham on Sunday sealed their fate as the first team ever to suffer Premier League relegation with seven matches still left to play. Ivan Juric, who had taken over from Martin, parted ways with the club on Monday - but the damage was already done during his predecessor's reign.
Martin took charge of Southampton back in June 2023 and managed to secure promotion through the play-offs in 2024. However, he was dismissed in December following a 5-0 drubbing by Tottenham as the Saints languished nine points adrift of safety. The Englishman employed a progressive brand of football that mimicked some of the league's top clubs but faced backlash for not adopting a more pragmatic style when it became clear his players were unable to carry out his tactics.
Under Martin this season, Southampton only managed one win while losing 13 out of their 16 games. Among those who experienced Southampton's struggles first hand was defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis , who is engaged to Manchester United icon Keane's daughter, Leah. And with the Saints’ relegation confirmed, Keane didn't hold back in slamming his future son-in-law's former head coach.
Keane vented his frustration on the latest episode of the Stick to Football podcast by saying: “We can be critical of managers who stick to their guns – Burnley went down with Vincent Kompany last year. Russell Martin [who was at Southampton] is a good manager. "They go up to Newcastle United and lose 1-0 [in their first game of the season].
After the game he was interviewed about the goalkeeper giving away the ball – he got caught at the edge of the box. “The interviewer picked out that mistake and he said, ‘But there were lots of other times we got out’, but you’re thinking, ‘That was the defining moment of the match!’ It doesn’t matter whether you got out 99 times, that was the moment that cost you – and that kept happening over the next few months.” In light of Southampton’s relegation, Harwood-Bellis took to Instagram to post a heartfelt message: "It's really hard to put into words how heartbroken and frustrated I am by this season.
After the highs of last season, I'm so sorry we didn't manage to push on and perform like we know we're capable of. "I truly believe in this team and I know we'll be back stronger. You fans deserve it.
It felt important to come on here and say a huge thank you to those that stood by us all season. You've cheered us on no matter what, and please believe me when I say we've heard, seen and felt the support. "Thank you, Saints.
It's been hard to put into words how disappointing this feels, but we've got to focus on finishing the season as a team, together" Martin recently opened up about his dismissal for the first time on Sky Sports, saying: "I'm frustrated I'm not there anymore but now I know the journey must start somewhere else. [You have to] try and make sure that you're in a job long enough to see out your plans. When I signed a new contract in the summer, I was really hoping [to see it out].
"It's always tough when you get promoted to the Premier League, it's tough for any team, but I felt we had a lot of young players and we were trying to grow something. Am I surprised by it in football? No, not at all. Of course, I'm disappointed but it's been so much learning.
I've learned so much so I feel we'll definitely be better for it. "I see so many managers and speak to so many coaches who came in to watch us work. After they lose their job, they feel regretful that they changed too much of what they wanted at the very beginning.
“I don't feel we did that. I have disappointments over maybe making too many changes or adapting too much. The biggest challenge for me was convincing everyone they belonged there and without evidence of winning games, that becomes really difficult.
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