• Club confirms exit after 13th loss in 16 league games
• Under-21s manager Simon Rusk to take interim charge

Southampton have sacked manager Russell Martin after their wretched Premier League return continued with Sunday’s 5-0 humiliation at home to Tottenham.

The 38-year-old moved to St Mary’s from Swansea last summer and oversaw a top-flight return at the first attempt thanks to their Championship playoff final win against Leeds.