Sun 3rd May - The City Ground
By Chris Burton Last updated: 1st July 2008
Dyer: Stalling on new deal
Southampton have excluded Nathan Dyer from the first-team fold for their pre-season preparations.
The striker recently turned down a contract offer from the club and has now become a free agent as a result.
He is currently working on a week-to-week deal while he considers his options, with the Saints refusing to give up hope of persuading him to stay.
However, the club have made it clear that they only want players who are totally committed to the cause to be involved in their build-up to the 2008/09 campaign and have ordered Dyer to train away from the rest of the group.
"Yesterday morning (Monday) we 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," the Saints' head coach Jan Poortvliet told the club's official website.
"We are 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 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 has spent all his life at a club and has 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.
"He can go somewhere else, which he has the right to do, but playing for Southampton if he has a great season then he will be ready for it.
"I think Nathan needs to play at least another year here to be ready to become a top player in the Premiership."
Club chairman Rupert Lowe added: "Jan Poortvliet, Mark Wotte and I have all spoke to Nathan and we have offered him a very fair contract which he has so far declined and he is now on a week-to-week basis.
"It is still on the table and we have made it very clear that we want to keep him. But we want complete commitment. That is the Dutch way and it is important and central to our plans to have commitment from players."

A look at the best pictures as Michael Owen completes a surprise move to Manchester United.
Pictures from the unveiling of Real Madrid's reported £56 million signing at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Pictures from the Under 21 championship semi-final between England and Sweden in Gothenburg.
Pictures from England's draw with Germany in the last Group B game of the Under 21 Championships.
A look at the best pictures as Michael Owen completes a surprise move to Manchester United.
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 11th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 15:00 | Bournemouth vs Southampton |
| Tuesday 14th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 19:45 | Cheltenham vs Southampton |
| Saturday 1st August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 15:00 | QPR vs Southampton |
| Saturday 8th August | |
| Coca-Cola Football League One | |
| 12:45 | Southampton vs Millwall |
| Tuesday 11th August | |
| Carling Cup | |
| 19:45 | Southampton vs Northampton |
| Saturday 15th August | |
| Coca-Cola Football League One | |
| 15:00 | Huddersfield vs Southampton |
| Tuesday 18th August | |
| Coca-Cola Football League One | |
| 19:45 | Swindon vs Southampton |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| Coca-Cola Football League One | |
| 15:00 | Southampton vs Brentford |
| Saturday 29th August | |
| Coca-Cola Football League One | |
| 15:00 | Stockport vs Southampton |
| Saturday 5th September | |
| Coca-Cola Football League One | |
| 15:00 | Southampton vs Colchester |
| Saturday 12th September | |
| Coca-Cola Football League One | |
| 15:00 | Charlton vs Southampton |
| Saturday 19th September | |
| Coca-Cola Football League One | |
| 15:00 | Southampton vs Yeovil |
| Saturday 26th September | |
| Coca-Cola Football League One | |
| 15:00 | Carlisle vs Southampton |
| Tuesday 29th September | |
| Coca-Cola Football League One | |
| 19:45 | Southampton vs Bristol Rovers |
| Saturday 3rd October | |
| Coca-Cola Football League One | |
| 15:00 | Southampton vs Gillingham |
| Friday 9th October | |
| Coca-Cola Football League One | |
| 19:45 | Southend vs Southampton |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 3rd May | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Nottm Forest 3 - 1 Southampton | |
| Saturday 25th April | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Southampton 2 - 2 Burnley | |
| Saturday 18th April | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Sheff Wed 2 - 0 Southampton | |
| Monday 13th April | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Southampton 1 - 0 Crystal Palace | |
| Friday 10th April | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Wolverhampton 3 - 0 Southampton | |
| Tuesday 7th April | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Watford 2 - 2 Southampton | |
| Saturday 4th April | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Southampton 2 - 3 Charlton | |
| Saturday 21st March | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Blackpool 1 - 1 Southampton | |
| Saturday 14th March | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Southampton 0 - 0 QPR | |
| Tuesday 10th March | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Southampton 1 - 1 Derby | |
| Saturday 7th March | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Birmingham 1 - 0 Southampton | |
| Tuesday 3rd March | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Ipswich 0 - 3 Southampton | |
| Saturday 28th February | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Southampton 1 - 0 Cardiff | |
| Saturday 21st February | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Southampton 3 - 1 Preston | |
| Saturday 14th February | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Bristol City 2 - 0 Southampton | |
| Tuesday 3rd February | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Southampton 1 - 2 Sheff Utd | |
| Saturday 31st January | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Southampton 2 - 2 Swansea | |
| Tuesday 27th January | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Norwich 2 - 2 Southampton | |
| Saturday 17th January | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Southampton 1 - 2 Doncaster | |
| Saturday 10th January | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Barnsley 0 - 1 Southampton | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Tranmere Rovers | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Walsall | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Wycombe Wanderers | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Yeovil Town | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Southampton | 0 | -10 |
Sky Sports News understands a new consortium has entered the race to buy Southampton.
Southampton have handed a trial to Graeme Murty after the full-back was released by Reading.
Southampton boss Mark Wotte has confirmed Stern John is back at the club to try to earn a new contract.
Sky Sports has announced its first live games for the season, including Boro, Newcastle and WBA.
Mark Wotte is hoping West Ham United target Kelvin Davis could still stay at Southampton.