Dyer frozen out by Saints
01 Jul 2008 - 13:16:11
Southampton winger Nathan Dyer has not been allowed to train with the rest of the first-team squad after rejecting a new contract offer at St Mary's.
The 20-year-old is now a free agent and his future seems certain to be elsewhere after making 61 first-team appearances for the Saints.
Head coach Jan Poortvliet told the club's official website: "We've talked with Nathan and said it was better for the group and for everyone if he didn't train with us unless he signs our contract.
"We're preparing the boys for the season and when you don't have a contract you can't prepare.
"We said he can sign or wait for another club, but we need players who are happy to be here, who are involved with Southampton and who want to work at a level for them themselves and for their team.
"We need players whose hearts are in Southampton and only then can we achieve what we want to achieve.
"I think it's a pity for a player who's spent all his life at a club and put in a lot of good work in the youth team and reserve teams and needs to prove himself in the first team and then you can make that step forward."