Rangers blamed for Sam Edozie 11th hour transfer collapse as Southampton boss Russell Martin 'gutted' for winger

Southampton boss Russell Martin admitted he was gutted Sam Edozie’s proposed loan deal to Rangers fell through at the last minute of the transfer window.

The Ibrox side were in for the winger and according to reports on the south coast a deal had been agreed but that Rangers “pulled the plug” at the eleventh hour. Former Scotland defender Martin, who had spell on loan at the Light Blues during his playing days, said: “What frustrated me was how late it fell through and it wasn't on our end.

"It's a bit unfair to Sam really. It's a bit disappointing but it is what it is. Every club has their prerogative and their priorities in the transfer window. I was gutted for Sam because it was too late to then find another opportunity to go and play football.

"He'll get to work like everyone else now. Get his head down, work really hard and try and get himself into the squad and into the team. He wasn't in it today because of the speculation but also because Sam Amo deserves to be in the squad more than he does right now.

"That's my opinion and that won't be everyone's opinion. It definitely won't be Sam Edozie's. But unfortunately, I'm the guy who takes that hope or the opportunity of him playing away. It's the hardest bit of the job. So we'll have a chat. We had a couple of messages already and we'll have a chat on Monday. He'll be fine. He needs to find a way to get himself back into the group and really impact things."