BOSS Russell Martin insists he still feels secure in his job despite Southampton’s position at the bottom of the Premier League table.

Martin’s men head to his home town to face Brighton at the Amex Stadium on Friday, looking to avoid a third straight defeat following Sunday’s 3-2 loss to Liverpool.

The 38 year old former Albion product admits he is under pressure from his kids – who still attend a Brighton school – but is not feeling the heat from his board.

He said: “In terms of job security and all that stuff, I think when you become a manager at this level as well, you understand the precarious nature of it.

“But then I have to trust the feeling inside the building, the people, the owners and the conversations we have, the communication we have, and I don’t feel anything but support from everyone.

“Supporters and the ownership have been brilliant, so I have to go off that feeling, and if that feeling changed at some point, maybe I would feel a bit more fragile.

“I think it just comes back to, we know who we are. We know what we’re here to do. We are trying our very best to do that. We try and manage it with love and care.

“It is hard work, and there are sleepless nights because you care so much, but you just have to trust that eventually it will pay off and come good, and it always has done so far.”

Martin spoke proudly of his upbringing in Brighton, where he played for Albion as a youth for a year before leaving by mutual consent in 2004.

The high-flying Seagulls would go second in the Premier League with a win, while Saints, four points behind 19th-placed Crystal Palace, are in dire need of a victory.

Adam Lallana will miss the opportunity to face his former club and is set to be sidelined for “the next couple of games”, while Paul Onuachu faces a late fitness test.

Martin added: “I have a lot of people in the crowd that I know will shout some abuse at me, my kids are desperate for me to win because they go to a school of all Brighton fans, and they’ll be in their Southampton shirts and their tracksuits.

“I split my time between there and here because I love being part of this club and part of this city, but my kids are in Brighton, they go to school there.

“Of course, it will mean a lot to a lot of people around me but it’s a game we’re desperate to win, and all the rest will come after I’m sure.”