Southampton chairman Dragan Solak believes former boss Russell Martin would have had a longer spell in charge if VAR had not cost them points during last season's Premier League campaign.
Martin was sacked in December following a 5-0 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur, leaving them with just one win in their return to the top flight and a league-low of 11 goals.
Solak told BBC Radio Solent it wasn't all Martin's fault and decisions that didn't go his way from the VAR hub had affected them.
"I really believe he was absolutely, fundamentally behind his idea of football and that is not easy in an environment like the Premier League that is so competitive," Solak said.