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

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.

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.”

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.

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.