Southampton boss Martin speaks on impact of St Mary's fire

Southampton were set for two home matches this week ahead of an extended three-week international break. 

However, the meeting with Preston was postponed just hours ahead of kick-off due to a massive fire opposite the Chapel stand. 

Saints have confirmed they will welcome Sunderland to St Mary's on Saturday with Martin offering his take on the incident.

The boss said: "Everyone was quite confident the game would go ahead this weekend. 

Some new images just taken from the scene down at St Mary’s.

As far as club staff are aware fan zone not ablaze as per some rumours!#SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/B2ojvnawod

— Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) March 6, 2024

"It was quite a strange day, Wednesday. We got told about it in the afternoon and could see the smoke as you drove into the city. 

"We understood then it was a big risk and thankfully nobody was hurt, which is my understanding, and that's the most important thing. 

"It is a big event with a lot of damage but I think the operations team and everyone else have rallied around to get the game on," he added.

"Everyone is safe and now we have a game of football to focus on and hopefully enjoy. It was a strange day with the game being cancelled.

"The smoke was still there with the fire engines putting stuff out as we drove into training the following morning as well.

"I have never known anything like it really but thankfully everyone is okay and we can move forward with a game."

The postponement means Saints will likely play their final 10 games of the Championship season in 36 days. 

View of the smoke from St Mary's industrial estate fire from town (Image: PA)

That gruelling month includes visits to top three and promotion rivals Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Leeds United.

Saints are currently eight points off the automatic promotion places with the Preston game, yet to be scheduled, still in hand. 

Martin refused to commit comment to whether he thinks the added fixture pile-up could put a dent in their promotion hunt.  

He explained: "I don't know if it will be positive or negative. We won't know until the end of the season.

"We are in the midst of a really relentless period and now we have to face another one from the end of March and April. 

"I don't know if it will be good or bad but it's not ideal that we will look at the league and teams will have played two more games than us.

"It is something we will have to deal with psychologically and just ignore a bit really. We focus on ourselves and that will remain the case.

"I would have loved the game to be on against Preston on Wednesday but we now have had a bit more of a break.

"Thursday felt like our first proper training day for a long time and now we have a game to be excited about."