Derby County’s Chris Martin joined Hull City on a season-long loan.
Hull City’s on-loan striker striker Chris Martin says Derby County boss Frank Lampard moved him on to make room for other players in the squad and head in another direction, Hulldailymail.co.uk report.
“He [Frank Lampard] wanted to have different options so I went out. There were 34 first-team players, which is a massive squad for the Championship and not necessary. They assessed what they had and needed, there’s no hard feelings there, and it’s about opinions. I knew the manager wanted to go a different way quite quickly,” Martin explained.
Derby boss Lampard made several changes to the squad over the summer, with fellow attackers Andreas Weimann, Cameron Jerome and Nick Blackman also departing Pride Park.
Martin’s exit, though, was a little more controversial as the Scotland international has enjoyed plenty of success during his time at Derby – finishing as the club’s top scorer for three successive seasons.
The former Norwich City man was pivotal during Derby’s promotion challenges between 2014-2016, but a number of managerial changes and different players coming through saw him lose his way.
Lampard decided to move Martin out to help free up space for the arrivals of Jack Marriott and Martyn Waghorn, but surprisingly both players have struggled for game-time, with David Nugent a regular starter.
Martin could have offered the Rams a different kind of threat upfront this season, but with the striker turning 30 next month, and his contract expiring in 2020, it seems Lampard doesn’t see him as part of his long-term plans.
Martin has made six Championship appearances for Hull this season, but has yet to find the net for the Tigers.
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