A member of the Southampton team that reached the 2005 FA Youth Cup Final, Yeovil-born Martin Cranie had made his first-team debut at the end of the previous season, at left-back for Paul Sturrock. He had to wait for a few games under Harry Redknapp but, by then, the Saints had one foot in the Championship. He had a mini-run of games in that division for George Burley, but Gareth Bale would commandeer the left-back slot in 2006-07. So, although Martin was capable of playing anywhere in the back four, his season comprised two loan-spells at his home-town club, in League One, and a solitary start for Southampton – in their final game, the second leg of the play-off v Derby. His Premiership revival under Redknapp at Fratton Park consisted of but two appearances. As Portsmouth embarked on a policy of spend-spend-spend, Martin was again loaned out.

And when the club’s finances inevitably imploded, he was one of the first to be sold in an effort to stave off administration. He became a regular for Coventry, for three seasons in the second-tier; but following their relegation in 2012, he took the opportunity to remain in the Championship with Barnsley and stayed in Yorkshire with his next three moves which concluded in playing a part in Sheffield United’s return to the Premier League.