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Martin On Verge Of Derby Switch

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New of Chris Martin’s impending move to Derby County…

Norwich City striker, Chris Martin is on the verge of securing a move to Derby County.

Martin, 24 is the Beccles born “local boy” that was famously watched by Sir Alex Ferguson when he burst into the City first team as a 17 year old in 2007.

Martin was an important part of the 2009/10 League One Championship winning side and struck up a good partnership with Grant Holt in that campaign.

Since then, promotion to the Championship saw his chances to play reduced with the arrival of Simeon Jackson and then promotion to the Premier League saw his chances reduced even further, first under Paul Lambert and then Chris Hughton.

The 24-year-old front man has been on loan with the Rams since February and manager Nigel Clough is expecting to complete a permanent deal soon.
Clough has been in talks with Martin and his representatives and is confident the transfer will go through soon.

“We are close to securing Chris Martin,” Clough told the Derby Telegraph.

“I think he has shown enough in the last two or three months to say he is going to be a good addition for us. Some of his link-up play with Jamie Ward and the midfield against Millwall on Saturday (when Derby won 1-0) was very good. We have seen some good things from him.”

Chris made 117 appearances for Norwich, 87 of them starts, scoring 34 goals, with 23 of them coming in the triumphant 2009-10 season in League One.

He is as famous here for his off field exploits as he is for what he did on the field, having famously once been “barred from every pub in Beccles” – he has also had the odd brush with the law and this baggage apparently did little to improve his relationship with Lambert.

He has had loan spells with Luton Town (where he scored in the Johnstone`s Paint Trophy Final win), Crystal Palace, Swindon and then most recently with Derby.

Martin is out of contract in the summer so leaves as a free agent. At times he has shown tremendous ability although as often he seems to lack effort – he coined the nickname “Stroller” amongst my friends and I.

My favourite memory of Chris is his diving header to score the only goal of the game against Leeds United at Carrow Road in 2010 which virtually assured us the League title.

All the best Chris, we hope it works out for you and you go some way to fulfilling your potential.

OTBC


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Editor - a forty something Canary, who has been following Norwich for 30 odd years. Family man with wife, kids, dog and a love of sport. Fan of Boxing, Vale 46, F1 and Rock.