The wait is finally over. Rangers have a new Head Coach. Russell Martin has agreed a three-year deal and is set to be officially announced before Friday. After weeks of rumours, speculation, and plenty of crossed wires, it’s done. We’ve got our man.
Let’s be honest, it’s been a bit of a circus since the takeover. Every day brought a new rumour, a new “inside source,” and a fresh wave of confusion- even from us at Inside Ibrox.
But now that the dust has settled, it’s Martin who gets the nod. The former Southampton boss was in a two-horse race with Davide Ancelotti, but the ex-Scotland international and one-time Rangers loanee has come out on top. Ancelotti, we’re hearing, is now looking at jobs in Italy and Spain with Como or Deportivo La Coruna.
Martin isn’t a total stranger to Ibrox. He had that short loan spell from Norwich back in 2018, not that it went particularly well. Under Graeme Murty, he was part of a side that struggled, was regularly humiliated by Celtic and ultimately failed to deliver.
But this is a chance for a fresh start, this time in the dugout. A new role, a new energy, and hopefully a completely different outcome.
What he does get, and this is massive, is a proper pre-season. No firefighting. No inheriting a broken squad mid-season. Just seven solid weeks to get his feet under the table, shape the squad, bring in new faces, and start drilling his style into the players before UEFA Champions League qualifiers kick off at the end of July. You’ve got to go back to Steven Gerrard in 2018/19 for the last time a Rangers boss had that luxury.
So, what are we getting in Martin? He’s a coach with a clear identity, he is a modern, possession-based football that’s easy on the eye but with a purpose. It’s not just passing for passing’s sake. His teams look to dominate the ball, move it quickly, and break through lines. It’s progressive football, and in the Scottish Premiership, it could work a treat.
But, and it’s a big but, Martin sticks to his principles. We saw that at Southampton. He doesn’t bend or adapt easily, even when things get tough. That could be a worry when you’re up against Celtic or facing top European sides.
You’ve got to be flexible in those moments. If not, we could be in for some bruising nights akin to Liverpool in 2022, especially if he’s not properly backed in the transfer market. And even with a decent spend, gelling a new squad takes time.
Let’s not kid ourselves, this is not a universally popular appointment. A lot of fans had other names in mind. Some wanted experience. Some wanted a statement. Russell Martin wasn’t high on many people’s lists. But now he’s here, and like it or not, we’ve got to get behind him. Slagging him off before he’s even had a game in charge helps no one. Back the gaffer, back the team, and we just might get back to where we belong sooner, rather than later.