Russell Martin quotes on Rangers loan spell revisited
Martin will be officially unveiled by the club within the next 48 hours.
He has been chosen over Davide Ancelotti as the preferred candidate for the role.
Martin, who was on loan from Norwich, played 17 times for Rangers during the 2017/18 season.
Read more: Former Rangers stars could be axed after just one year at Turkish club
Russell Martin reveals he 'turned down a few jobs' before agreeing Rangers deal
The club finished third in the Scottish Premiership that season and sacked manager Pedro Caixinha after just a few months in charge.
Speaking to the Eastern Daily Press in 2018 about his time at Rangers, Martin said: "I don't think anything can prepare you for it.
"It's huge.
"You've got an idea, but it's only when you go up there that you realise how big it is.
"Just walking around the streets, it's a giant of a football club with a great fan base.
"For me, it was a bit wrong place, wrong time.
"The club was a bit all over the place and then a change of manager, who was an interim manager anyway (Graeme Murty).
"But I loved playing for a football club of that size and that support."
Martin's experience of the club, albeit during a troubled time, is expected to help him in his new role.
He previously admitted he didn't fully understand the scale of Rangers until he joined.
His knowledge of the club and its demands are expected to stand him in good stead as he takes on the managerial position.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
12 minutes ago
- BBC News
What are our pundits' Premiership predictions?
With the shadow boxing of pre-season well and truly over, who has emerged stronger or weaker?We have already had the League Cup group stage and the first European qualifiers, but now the Scottish football season truly gets into full swing with the first domestic league fixtures this some of BBC Scotland's football pundits were asked to give us their preditions for the top-flight was no surprise with their unanimous view on who would finish Premiership champions and runners-up - and one team stood out as likely relegation who did they think will finish third - and who do they reckon will be the surprise guys? Read on. Willie Miller, former Aberdeen centre-half 1st: CelticThe reigning champions still have the strongest squad, with a top-class, proven manager.2nd: RangersWith a new head coach, new owners and new investment, the Ibrox side quite simply have to be at runners-up at worst.3rd: AberdeenIf they can cope with European football, the Dons have a cup-winning squad, a proven, successful, experienced manager and a chairman who will back him Dundee With a whole host of players departing, a new coach in the form of Steven Presley who was not the most popular choice as far as their fans are concerned, and a poor start to the League Cup, the pressure could come on early at Dens package: Falkirk They have a coach in John McGlynn who likes to play the game in a cultured fashion, which he won't change, so they will be easy on the eye and successfull with it. Julie Fleeting, former Scotland striker 1st: CelticThe strength of their squad is superior to the rest and, financially, they can add quality when needed. They also have players who are Celtic through and through and play with passion and desire.2nd: RangersWith lots of changes behind the scenes at Ibrox, it may take a bit of time to bed in and get them back to really competing at Celtic's level.3rd: HibernianDavid Gray had a tough start as head coach, but then things started to click and, based on their strong second half of last season, they have a good foundation to build on. Their first five games of the season - Dundee, Kilmarnock, Livingston, Falkirk and St Mirren - are all games they can go into confident they can get early points on the DundeeThis is always a really tough to answer as teams work really hard to prepare their squads for the new season. I've based my answer on a couple of poor League Cup results and also, with a new head coach coming in, it may take time for them to hit the ground package: FalkirkAfter back-to-back promotions, it's exciting to see how the Bairns can compete at the highest level. Michael Stewart, former Hearts & Hibs midfielder 1st: CelticThey're the strongest team with the biggest budget and a top-level manager as well. They're still looking to bring in a main striker too, which I can only see strengthening their grip on the Premiership. As long as these facts remain, Celtic are going to continue to be the force to reckon with here.2nd: RangersThey're the next biggest club in the country and clearly, with all the new people moving into positions in their hierarchy, they'll be desperate to close the gap on Celtic, but I'm not sure that will be achievable just now. I think there's scope for those behind to potentially get closer to the Ibrox side.3rd: Heart of MidlothianFor the first time in years, Hearts have made a serious managerial appointment and, with some of the Jamestown signings looking like they may have an impact offensively, it could be a positive partnership for all concerned at Tynecastle. I see a really interesting battle for third between the two Edinburgh sides, as Hibs have transformed into a club who really have their house in ?Impossible to say until we get a chance to see all the sides in action. However, I think it could be a challenging season for Dundee, given the self-enforced changes and the loss of key players. Along with the likes of Kilmarnock, Livingston and Falkirk, I see them potentially fighting it package: MotherwellIf the Steelmen make a relatively bright start to the campaign then the style Jens Berthel Askou is implementing could be really enjoyable for the fans to watch - and ultimately rewarding too - with a chance to challenge for the top six. Rory Loy, former Falkirk striker 1st: CelticThe champions have work to do on the squad as it stands, but I think they will address this with some more eye-catching signings towards the end of the window and, with Brendan Rodgers being the best manager in the league, I don't see any other winner.2nd: RangersI think the Ibrox side may be closer to Celtic come May than last season, but I think it will take a few months to hit top form, which will leave them points behind. Always difficult to chase such a dominant Celtic.3rd: Heart of Midlothian Derek McInnes arriving as head coach and actually playing Lawrence Shankland in his favoured position up top equals best of the rest. Simple. Not playing in Europe will be a huge advantage versus the other teams expected to challenge for DundeeEasily the toughest one to predict. Poor League Cup group-stage campaigns don't always mean much, but Falkirk and Livingston look good, so I will say Dundee. Very much guess work at this stage with this one package: LivingstonDavid Martindale is determined to try and lose the long ball, physicality tag. Whilst they may not be top six, I think they will be comfortable this season, finishing best of the rest. Stephen Craigan, former Motherwell defender 1st: Celtic The reigning champions have the best players and the deepest squad, as well as Brendan Rodgers as manager.2nd: RangersStill a lot of questions around the new signings and their ability to win a title in a two-horse race. Time will tell if they're good enough.3rd: Heart of Midlothian Not having group stage European football as a distraction is a huge bonus for the Edinburgh side. The players underperformed last season and, with the additions over the summer, they have a better balance to the DundeeI'm judging this as we stand and not at the end of the transfer window remember. They have lost a lot of their reliable players who had good Scottish Premiership experience and haven't yet managed to replace them and I'm not sure they can. A bit into the package: LivingstonI'm not sure they'll be a surprise, but David Martindale has recruited well. He got his business done early and his squad has a lot of players with a point to prove and I think they'll prove it. A downside for them, though, is that teams won't dread going to Almondvale (or whatever it's called now) because of the new artificial pitch. I think they will stay well clear of trouble but won't have enough for top six.
BBC News
42 minutes ago
- BBC News
Are Celtic ready for fight on all fronts?
With Celtic about to begin the defence of their Scottish title and facing a crunch Champions League qualifying play-off, just how equipped are they to build on recent success and progress again this season?Recruitment, aligned to key departures, has been a central theme of Celtic supporter conversation of late, with apparent concern that the squad is lacking in a number of areas that was echoed by manager Brendan Rodgers saying on Friday that there are "gaps in the squad that are very clear".There is still a long way to go in the transfer window, but with the expectation of a stronger title challenge from Rangers and a clear desire for continued participation at European football's top table, are Celtic ready to take on the immediate challenges ahead?Rodgers targeted improvement in Europe as a key aim on his return to the club and got that last season, pushing Bayern Munich in the Champions League play-off stage to narrowly miss out on a last 16 spot. Participation on that stage this season will be determined by a play-off in just under a month and missing out would be a significant just one year left on Rodgers' three-year contract, what happens over the coming weeks may go a long way to determining if he believes he can continue such despite saying he is "very happy" at Celtic, the 52-year-old Northern Irishman stressed he is "not the type of manager" to stick around if a club is merely treading water and that there was "no update" on a new contract. Tale of two Rodgers tenures With Rodgers entering a third season in charge of Celtic for the second time, it has been almost undiluted domestic success across both domestic trebles in his first two seasons came alongside challenging Champions League Cup victory in 2018 meant a seventh straight domestic trophy, but a perceived frustration that he had hit a ceiling with Celtic and the lure of the English Premier League sparked fury among a previously adoring support as Rodgers left for Leicester return four years later was met with a lukewarm response. He stated he would be there for the full three-year contract and quickly started winning trophies again to win over the support. He has won two league and cup doubles in two seasons, but it is the clear improvement at Champions League level that showcases Celtic's progression under that to continue, he has repeatedly stressed the need for quality additions to his squad. That need has become acute with the exit of Nicolas Khun, the long-term injury to fellow winger Jota and the lack of a direct replacement for Kyogo Furuhashi since the Japan forward left in January. The question is whether Celtic's recruitment ambitions match Rodgers' desire to continue driving the club forward and what that means moving forwards? Reluctance to spend a fair accusation as Celtic seek quality? Rodgers has repeatedly used the word "quality" when describing what his squad needs. He's also been clear that he wants more firepower and is short on natural wingers. Scotland defender Kieran Tierney's return adds undoubted talent and Sweden winger Benjamin Nygren appears to be good business on early evidence. Other new faces appear to be mainly for is clear is a significant section of the Celtic support feel a reluctance to spend significant sums is putting not only European ambitions at risk but also their domestic that fair? FThe former Celtic midfielder Scott Allan understands fan frustration but points to the return of Tierney on a free transfer as an example that is being somewhat overlooked."The fact that they were able to get Tierney on the free papers over the fact that he's a player of immense quality," he told BBC Scotland. "The only concerning thing is the fact that Brendan Rodgers actually spoke about players coming in and not necessarily getting in as starters. "I think Celtic fans are looking at players who can come in and affect the team now and that's where the concern is growing from." Long-term transfer strategy paid off, but should Celtic bow to fan demands? Celtic's long-term transfer strategy has delivered time and time again and must be the envy of many clubs. Huge profit has been brought in for the likes of Matt O'Riley, Jota and spent big last summer on midfielder Arne Engels and striker Adam Idah. With hindsight, some fans feel they may have overpaid, but that view may change over the coming months.A rough estimate of receipts this summer alone suggests a figure of around £20-25m has come in against a spend a fraction of that. A reminder of the first window of Rodgers' second spell is notable in terms of fan satisfaction. Celtic recruited widely and supporter reaction at the time seemed overwhelmingly positive. A look through that list of names might provide some caution. Luis Palma, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Kwon Hyeok-kyu, Marco Tilio, Odin Thiago Holm and Maik Nawrocki have all failed to make the grade after an outlay of close to £ and care over fees may bear more fruit than the examples above. How will Rodgers feel right now? Rodgers has repeatedly indicated that he expects his squad to be stronger come the end of August and there is likely to be movement in the coming days and weeks. The question is whether that will be enough to satisfy him and a support desperate to enjoy continued domestic success and see their team build on a successful Champions League campaign last term, with that play-off hurdle crucial."I can totally understand his Rodgers' frustration," Allan said. "He spoke after the Bayern Munich exit about evolving every year. That was probably looking ahead to this window."There were a lot of questions asked when Kyogo left. Daizen Maeda did a job as number nine, but I think there's no question Brendan Rodgers prefers him on the wing. "He's wanting to evolve the team, he's wanting to go longer in Europe and that comes down to getting quality in."In Rodgers' own words, Celtic have work to do in this window with significant challenges coming over the horizon.
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Celtic board told they have a 'messy' situation to deal with
It comes after Brendan Rodgers' recent comments regarding transfers and his future. The Parkhead boss admitted that if Celtic just want to maintain and not strive to improve, he isn't the right manager for them. "There's no need to try to work out any hidden messages any more," said Sutton of Rodgers' comments [RecordSport]. Read more: "This was a clear warning – back me properly or I'm off at the end of the season. "You can't blame him. He's the one who will carry the can if things go wrong in Europe or at home. "And while the contract situation is the elephant in the room, it could be clearer in the next few weeks. "If Rodgers doesn't get the backing he wants and needs, it will look like the club is treading water rather than matching his ambition. "He's cranking up the pressure on the board, and it's now over to them to deliver. It's all a bit unnecessarily messy, really." Celtic kick off their Scottish Premiership campaign with a home game against St Mirren on Sunday. They then travel to face Aberdeen at Pittodrie a week later as the new season gets underway.
