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The pressure surrounding Russell Martin has intensified after Leicester City endured another disappointing result at the start of their League One campaign, with supporters already beginning to question whether the club made the right decision in appointing him.
Martin arrived at the King Power Stadium during the summer with a three-year contract and initially appeared to have earned some breathing room after a promising pre-season.
But the mood has changed dramatically after Leicester opened their competitive campaign with just one point from two matches.
The Foxes began with a draw against Notts County before suffering a painful 2-1 home defeat to Burton Albion on Saturday. Leicester were 2-0 down inside the opening half-hour and were forced to play for more than an hour with 10 men following Oliver Skipp’s straight red card.
Although Wes Burns pulled one back before half-time and Leicester showed greater attacking threat after the break, Martin’s side could not rescue a point.
The result has left Leicester sitting 18th in League One, and the early optimism surrounding Martin is quickly disappearing.
But despite the growing frustration, there is one major factor that could work in the manager’s favour.
Leicester City are not currently expected to make an immediate change in the dugout.
Martin has only overseen two competitive matches since taking charge, while his three-year contract means the club would face a significant financial commitment if they decided to dismiss him so early into his tenure.
The club’s wider financial situation makes that decision even more complicated.
Leicester remain under serious financial pressure, with major wage reductions already taking place and concerns surrounding the possibility of administration. Paying off a manager only weeks after handing him a long-term contract would therefore be an expensive gamble.
That means, for now, Martin retains his position.
However, that does not mean the pressure has disappeared.
The Foxes now face a crucial run of fixtures, with Ipswich Town away followed by MK Dons. Further disappointing results could quickly turn the current frustration into something much more serious.
And that is where the Leicester City board’s stance becomes increasingly important.
There is no indication that Martin has been sacked but the club will be watching the situation closely as results continue to matter.
For a manager whose appointment was already questioned by sections of the fanbase, the margin for error may now be considerably smaller than it was just a few weeks ago.
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