Southampton owner Dragan Solak send message on Russell Martin, West Brom’s Carlos Corberan links

Pundit and former England international Carlton Palmer has told Southampton owner Dragan Solak to resist parting ways with under-fire manager Russell Martin, with West Bromwich Albion’s Carlos Corberan touted as a potential replacement.

According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Martin is just one game away from losing his job at Southampton following a difficult start to the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.

The 38-year-old guided the Saints to promotion at the first time of asking through the play-offs last season, though his unwillingness to change his strict possession-based brand of football has caused division among supporters and his time on the south coast could be up before long.

Southampton have only claimed one point from their opening seven matches, earning a 1-1 draw at home to Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich on September 20, 2021. The report claims that Martin may well face the axe if his side loses to fellow newly-promoted outfit Leicester City this weekend, with Southampton’s top-brass currently in the process of devising a list of potential replacements.

As per the Sunday Mirror, via their print edition on Sunday (22 September, page 72), Southampton are monitoring Corberan, who has enjoyed an impressive introduction to the season with West Brom in the Championship, and it is difficult to rule out forthcoming approaches from the Saints if Martin receives his marching orders.

Carlton Palmer’s Russell Martin, Carlos Corberan and Southampton claim

Palmer believes that Corberan’s lack of Premier League experience may count against him in contention for the job at Southampton, who may be desiring more tried-and-tested candidates to guide them out of a likely relegation scrap.

“I really don’t like talking about managers losing their jobs, being a former manager myself I don’t like entering this conversation but I suppose as part of my job we have to do that,” Palmer exclusively told Football League World.

“Southampton sit in 19th place, second from bottom in the Premier League after seven games with only one point. Listen, it’s going to be very, very tough.

“Their next game is crucial for them, I suppose. They play Leicester City at home, who are on six points. It’s a crucial game for Russell Martin, you would fear the worst for him if they were to lose to a fellow promotion team.

“But you’ve got to look at who you’re going to bring in. I know people are talking about Carlos Corberan, but he hasn’t managed in the Premier League. He’s done a fantastic job at West Bromwich Albion, getting them to the play-offs, but he’s not managed in the Premier League.

“So when people are saying about Corberan or mentioning other names, you’ve got to look at what the reality is. The reality is that Southampton aren’t cut adrift, they’re three points off Ipswich Town. You’ve got West Ham in 12th place on eight points, two wins changes everything.

“I think the Southampton hierarchy have to keep their nerve, the man’s got you promoted to the Premier League. I understand you’re there, it’s big money and you want to stay there, but it’s a gulf between the Championship and the Premier League.

“It’s as simple as that. You can’t argue with the facts. It’s a very difficult gap to breach, so you’ve got to trust and believe in the manager who’s got you up there.

“Southampton did unbelievably well to get promoted last season, you’ve got to believe in your manager and have some faith.

“Obviously it would be disappointing if they failed to get a result against Leicester at home, but I think it’s unfair for the manager to lose his job. Unfortunately, that’s the nature of the beast.”

West Bromwich Albion must retain Carlos Corberan at all costs

Albion may find themselves sweating increasingly if Martin gets the axe, as the opportunity to manage and prove your worth in the top-flight of English football is seldom easy to resist.

That’s not to say Corberan will categorically have his head turned, as the Baggies could well be swapping divisions with Martin’s Southampton at the end of the current campaign. However, it is naturally a possibility, of course, and West Brom simply cannot afford to lose the Spaniard under any circumstances.

Corberan galvanised a club plagued by uncertainty and instability after joining in October 2022. He guided the Baggies to the play-offs in his first full season in charge, and they now look poised to be right up there regarding top-six contention all year long.

Crucially, he has his side punching above their weight and outperforming rivals with superior budgets and playing squads, while his tactical flexibility leaves little wonder why Southampton seemingly regard him as a viable successor to Martin, whose unyielding faith in his own approach has turned supporters.

However, if West Brom are to potentially return to the top-flight then they simply must keep Corberan at all costs. There is no indication that he intends on jumping ship just yet, and they will desperately hope for it to stay that way,