Yesterday morning, Rangers Twitter erupted after transfer guru Fabrizio Romano posted that the club was “closing in” on appointing Russell Martin as our next Head Coach.
His name has been doing the rounds for weeks now, but we’ve deliberately avoided covering it—because, frankly, we were hoping it wasn’t serious. But with the noise growing louder across social media, forums, and even mainstream media, it’s time to face the reality: Russell Martin could be in the Ibrox dugout soon.
A Forgettable Spell as a Player… But That’s Not the Issue
Let’s be clear: our concerns aren’t based on his past as a Rangers player. His short time on the pitch at Ibrox was underwhelming, but that’s irrelevant here. He won’t be pulling the boots back on.
The issue is his managerial record—and more importantly, whether his style of football translates to success in the Scottish Premiership.
Philosophy Over Pragmatism?
Martin is a “philosophy manager.” He’s committed to a high-possession, high-pressing style with a high defensive line and an emphasis on exploiting the spare man. It’s a method that can be pleasing on the eye and is rooted in modern coaching trends.
But here’s the problem: in Scotland, that approach plays straight into the hands of most teams—bar Celtic. The majority of sides will sit in a compact low block, concede possession, and wait for a counterattack or set piece to land the sucker punch.
We’ve seen it happen again and again to managers who come up here thinking they can out-pass stubborn, well-drilled defences. That’s not tactical innovation—it’s tactical naivety.
Southampton Fans Warned Us
A quick look at fan forums from Martin’s time at Southampton gives a stark warning. Many Saints fans predicted his possession-heavy system wouldn’t work in the Premier League. They feared he had no Plan B. And sadly, they were proven right.
His team suffered a historically bad run, were relegated, and Martin was let go. While he did guide them through the Championship playoffs to earn promotion, his overall win percentage doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.
| Club | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milton Keynes Dons | 80 | 30 | 19 | 31 | 37.5% |
| Swansea City | 99 | 36 | 27 | 36 | 36.4% |
| Southampton | |||||
| – Championship | 54 | 30 | 11 | 13 | 55.6% |
| – Premier League | 16 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 6.3% |
| Total | 249 | 97 | 59 | 93 | 39.0% |
No Silverware. No European Experience.
Let’s be blunt: Russell Martin has never won a trophy as a manager. He’s never led a team in European competition. And yet here we are—weeks away from Champions League qualifiers—and he’s a frontrunner for one of the most demanding jobs in British football.
The fan reaction? One word: Deflated. From podcasts to WhatsApp chats, the mood is clear. There’s very little enthusiasm for this appointment, and that could create a pressure cooker from day one.
He’ll Need a Flying Start
If the board do go ahead and appoint him, Martin must hit the ground running. With vocal fans already labelling this a mistake, there won’t be any grace period. A few dropped points, and Ibrox could become a hostile place very quickly.
That might sound unfair—but this is Rangers. That’s the job. That’s the pressure. That’s the expectation.
Not a Done Deal… Yet
The club has since pushed back on reports that a decision has been made. Official word is that talks continue with multiple shortlisted candidates.
Sources close to Martin also say no final decision has been made. Interestingly, those close to Davide Ancelotti believe he’s still in the running too.
Do Fans Influence the Decision?
One angle worth watching is how much sway the fanbase has in the decision-making process. There’s a wave of positivity following the 49ers takeover. Expectations are sky-high.
But here’s the paradox: We call for strong leadership—yet moan when that leadership doesn’t match our personal preference. If the board truly believe Martin is the right man, they should stand by that choice, regardless of fan backlash.
We don’t have the data they do. We don’t sit in the interviews. We don’t get the internal reports. We judge what we see on YouTube and Twitter clips.
Our View? Ancelotti Still Feels Right
We liked the idea of a Steven Gerrard return. It felt romantic—unfinished business and all that.
But when Davide Ancelotti’s name came up, that was genuinely exciting. Sure, he’s not managed before and doesn’t know Scottish football. But he’s been working at the highest level in world football and has a mind many admire. His ceiling is high. His appointment would show ambition.
Russell Martin, by contrast, just feels underwhelming. If he’s appointed, we’ll back him—because we always back the badge. But we can’t pretend we wouldn’t feel a bit disappointed.
Over to You
What do you think?
Would Russell Martin be the right appointment—or a major risk?
If not him, who should it be?
What to keep reading more? Check out some of our other latest articles!
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- Harry Darling to Rangers? Why This One Feels Real
- Issame Charai Leaves Rangers as Russell Martin Assembles New Backroom Team
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