'No interest' – Southampton boss Russell Martin gives blunt response after blanking Prime Minister & Saints fan Rishi Sunak

Southampton boss Russell Martin gave a blunt "no interest" response after blanking Prime Minister & Saints fan Rishi Sunak.

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• Sunak came down to St. Mary's
• Martin snubbed the PM
• The manager not aligned with Sunak's political beliefs

• Table of Contents

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Prime Minister was in attendance at St Mary’s Stadium to witness his favourite team in action against Plymouth. Although he had a gala time in the stands as Southampton eked out a 2-1 win to maintain their Championship promotion push, Sunak did not receive any special treatment from the manager during his dressing room visit.

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• WHAT MARTIN SAID ABOUT SUNAK

  Speaking to reporters, Martin said: "He might have come down [to see the players], but I have no interest in saying hello. How’s that for honesty?

  “I hope he enjoyed himself just like anyone who comes here. I hope they enjoy themselves. I have no interest [in chatting] because I’m a football manager. I’m not sure we’re aligned on too much politically but I know he’s a fan and I hope he enjoyed watching the team. I’m sure some people would be excited about him being here but we had a job to do and we were here to win a football match and we did.”

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The indifference is not surprising, given Martin's close affiliation with the Green Party since 2018. The football manager's background reveals a challenging upbringing with a father who allegedly subjected Martin’s mother to domestic abuse and a gambling addiction. Despite these challenges, Martin has become a proponent of positive change. He has been a vegan since 2014, co-owns the UK's largest vegan restaurant, Erpingham House, and established the Russell Martin Foundation to leverage football's power for positive societal impact.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Southampton are third in the Championship and are now unbeaten in their last 17 matches. They will next make a trip to Norwich City on New Year's Day.