Russell Martin can conjure Rangers winning formula if he's learned one thing from Southampton insists Steven Davis
Davis watched Martin's tenure at his other former club Southampton closely and hopes boss has learned from failed experiement
Steven Davis is confident Russell Martin can come up with a winning formula at Ibrox - so long as he learns from his failed Premier League experiment.
The former Southampton boss is back for another crack at management six months after being sacked by Saints.
The bold passing philosophy that swept the South Coast outfit to promotion to the English top flight was quickly torn apart by their merciless rivals.
A savage run of defeats cost Martin his job but ex-Gers skipper Davis is certain the new Ibrox gaffer will have learned his lessons.
Davis - a four-time league himself winner at Ibrox - said: "I'm very hopeful Russell will be successful. Ultimately, that's what we all want, a successful Rangers competing for trophies and winning regularly. Hopefully Russel and his staff can bring that to the club.
'He's obviously very straightforward in terms of how he wants to work.
'He's got a philosophy and a culture that he wants to implement. I think that'd be a good thing.
'I've watched quite a few Southampton games when he was manager there.
'They obviously did really well in the Championship, maybe not quite so well in Premier League, but he's learned from those experiences.
'He'll be in a better position going into the job at Ibrox, so I'm very hopeful that he can be successful.'
Martin has a huge job overhauling an Ibrox squad that proved to be miles off the Premiership pace last term.
The former MK Dons and Swansea manager has insisted his team will put up a better fight than the one which crawled home a massive 17 points behind Brendan Rodgers' swaggering Celtic.
He stopped short, however, of making a title declaration as he gave a nod to the scale of the task awaiting him.
Davis reckons the Ibrox legions will understand how big a job the new boss faces - but warned that patience will only last so long.
He grinned: 'Unfortunately patience isn't a word used in Glasgow!
'I think everybody going into their roles will know the demands that are going to be on the players and the club to try and get that success as soon as possible.
'I think they're capable of doing it. Celtic have been pretty strong in the last few years, but I don't think that the gap should have been what it was anyway.
'Rangers have shown in the Old Firm games last season that they can compete — but it's getting that consistency.
'Hopefully they can start the season well. It's such a big thing, the psychology and the freedom within the group, as soon as you start to get that confidence and belief in the tea then it can take you far.
"The expectancy will be for Rangers to dominate the ball in the majority of games in the league.
'But it's what you do with that possession, and that'll be his focus in terms of how he can get into areas where the team can create chances to score - but also with having that balance of the defensive side of things as well.
'All the experiences Russell has gained in his short managerial career will benefit him — you're always better for the experience you have, good or bad.
"You learn from it, and you adapt as you go along, and you try to become better.'
Davis has tasted the sedate life Martin enjoyed at Southampton during his own six-and-a-half year stint at St Mary's.
But that was nothing like the madness he faced during two spells in Glasgow.
Martin had a brief taste of that frenzied working atmosphere himself during a four-month stint as a Rangers defender - and Davis reckons that will do him the world of good as he gets his feet under the table.
'The pressures are much more in this city,' he said. 'When you go to Rangers, you have to embrace that side of things. If you don't it can swallow you up.
'But Russell knows what he's stepping into. He's got that short-term experience that he's had at the club, and that'll really benefit him going into the job.
'It's very hard to speak about Rangers and Celtic until you actually experience it yourself.
'Thankfully, Russell's got that experience. He only had it for a short period but he's had that experience and he can bring that knowledge with him, which is positive.'
:: Davis was speaking as he helped promote 10 Years On - a celebratory event taking place at Belfast's Ulster Hall on May 2, 2026, marking next year's anniversary of Northern Ireland's Euro 2016 campaign. For tickets go to Ulsterhall.co.uk
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