Dundee step up new manager search
Dundee are hoping to unveil their new managerial appointment next week, with managing director John Nelms meeting with potential managers across Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. (The Courier, external - subscription required)Rangers' interest in out-of-contract Dundee midfielder Josh Mulligan is on hold until the Ibrox club appoint a new head coach, but the 22-year-old has other options, with Charlton Athletic and Salford City also keen. (Daily Record), externalZiyad Larkeche, the 22-year-old left-back, says he is returning from his loan to Dundee unclear about whether "there is a real plan for me" at Queens Park Rangers after Marti Cifuentes was dismissed as manager before the end of the season. (The Courier, external - subscription required)Read the rest of Thursday's Scottish gossip.
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Daily Record
28 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Kris Boyd dismisses Celtic points gap and claims Russell Martin can lead Rangers to title glory
Gers ended the Premiership campaign 17 points behind their rivals but Boyd is adamant Martin can turn things around quickly Kris Boyd believes Russell Martin is the man to end Celtic's dominance and make Rangers top dogs in Scotland again. Gers finally ended their 102-day search for Philippe Clement's replacement by handing the Ibrox reins to ex-Southampton boss Martin. The former Scotland international has been tasked with leading the Light Blues' revival and bridging the gap with their rivals across the city. Martin – who has also managed MK Dons and Swansea – led Saints to Premier League promotion in 2024 but was axed in December after just one win from 16 top-flight matches. The 39-year-old's mixed managerial record has heightened concerns among supporters as to whether he's the right man for the job. Trophy-starved Rangers ended another dismal campaign 17 points behind runaway champions Celtic but Boyd is adamant Martin has the right credentials to transform the Glasgow giants into title challengers. "Listen, it didn't make good reading for Rangers domestically last year once again", the legendary striker told Sky Sports News. "But we've seen it before. You go back to Dick Advocat's team, they totally wiped the floor with Celtic. Martin O'Neill arrived and they totally wiped the floor with that Rangers team, which was a good Rangers team. "I think that you look at Rangers' problems, they didn't come against Celtic last year, they were against everyone else. "So if Rangers can eradicate the results against everybody else and start to build momentum early, start winning the games against the rest, then the Old Firm games will take care of themselves. "And Rangers have shown that they can cause Celtic problems in one-off games. But it's finding that consistency, and that's going to be the challenge for Russell Martin from now on. "He needs to find a level of consistency to go and beat the rest that allows Rangers to challenge towards the latter stage of the season against Celtic. "I've seen bigger point gaps than this being turned around. It's not like in England where you might have one big team who's struggling, but there are another three or four who are doing okay, and you need to overtake the three or four. "For Rangers, they only need to overtake Celtic for it to be a success. But, it's going to be a lot harder than you think because Celtic, under Brendan Rodgers, have been a well-oiled machine now for a number of seasons. "They do look as if they will strengthen again in the summer. They've got an opportunity for Champions League football again. "I think that it's a tough ask, but I think Rangers have got the right man, and he's shown that he can improve players, he can improve teams, he can build a culture within the football club that will allow the club to flourish going forward. "So, for me, can that gap be closed? Of course it can. Rangers need to find that consistency against everyone else. "But also, we've all been part of squads where you know you're going to be playing, you know you're the first name on the team sheet, and that's not good. It's not healthy. "You need to have people pushing you every single day in training, and I'm sure if Russell Martin's to add six or seven players to that, the starters from last year will probably become substitutes, and then it's up to them to fight back to try and get on the team. "And that is a healthy squad." Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bite-sized chunks.
North Wales Chronicle
29 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Rangers appoint new boss Russell Martin on three-year contract
The 39-year-old former MK Dons, Swansea and Southampton boss has signed a three-year contract. He will be joined at Ibrox by assistant head coach Matt Gill and performance coach Rhys Owen. ✍️ Our new Head Coach, Russell Martin. — Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) June 5, 2025 Martin guided Southampton to promotion to the Premier League last year but was sacked in December following one win from their first 16 games. Rangers finished last season under the caretaker management of former captain Barry Ferguson, having dismissed Philippe Clement in February. Ex-Scotland defender Martin, who had a short loan spell as a player at Rangers in 2018, is tasked with wrestling power back from the other side of Glasgow after Celtic's stranglehold on Scottish football continued with a 13th William Hill Premiership title in 14 seasons. 'From my time here, I had a taste of how special this club is, the expectation, the passion and the history,' he told the club's website. 'Now, as I return, I'm determined to bring success back, for the supporters, the players, and everyone inside this club. 'There's a lot to be done, but the goal is clear: win matches, win trophies and give Rangers fans a team that they can be proud of.' ✍️ We are delighted to confirm the appointment of Russell Martin as Head Coach of our men's first team on a three-year deal. Full Details ⬇️ — Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) June 5, 2025 Martin's arrival is the latest in a series of major changes at the club. An American consortium led by Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises secured a majority shareholding on Friday, while new sporting director Kevin Thelwell officially began work on Monday. Rangers chief executive Patrick Stewart, who led the recruitment process alongside Thelwell, said: 'Our criteria for our next coach were clear: we wanted a coach who will excel in terms of how we want to play, improve our culture, develop our squad, and ultimately win matches. Russell was the standout candidate.'
Reuters
30 minutes ago
- Reuters
Exclusive: Guardiola dreams of World Cup glory but has no plans to leave City anytime soon
BARCELONA, June 5 - Pep Guardiola has no plans to leave Manchester City anytime soon but the Spaniard has often thought about what it would be like to guide an international team and says he would love to take on the challenge of a World Cup or Euros campaign. "I would love to be in a World Cup, in a Euro, a Copa America,' Guardiola told Reuters in an exclusive interview. 'I have always thought about it. But it depends on many, many things. If it happens, it's fine. If it doesn't happen, it's more than fine as well." After winning 12 domestic top-flight titles across Spain, Germany and England, Guardiola endured a trophyless campaign with City last season, a shock to the system after so much success. While he came in for some stinging criticism over his elite squad's failure on all fronts, Guardiola said he was not interested in "proving the haters wrong' when City start afresh next season. "It's to prove myself that I can do it, I don't want to have those feeling that last season left' he added. "Because when we win, the wine tastes better afterwards, you sleep better. I don't know a manager who loses games and sleeps like a baby. It doesn't happen. You've got to worry. That's part of our life." Top of Guardiola's 'to-do list' is to win another Champions League with City and should they cross paths once more with Real Madrid, his nemesis Carlo Ancelotti will not be in the opposing dugout after the Italian took charge of Brazil. Mere mention of Ancelotti's departure was enough to put a smile on Guardiola's lips. The pair faced each other five times in the knockout rounds of the Champions League, with the Italian coming out on top in all but one. "I'm so happy for him,' Guardiola said. "But I'm so happy that he's not in Madrid anymore because all the time he beats me. That I don't have to handle it anymore." The Spaniard added that it was unrealistic to expect him to win everything every year, and said that even the most successful athletes lose more than they win. "I won 12 domestic leagues in 16 years. It's not bad, I would say. But you cannot win all the time. I cannot win the Champions League all the time," he added. "Michael Jordan, the best athlete I've ever seen in my life won six NBA Championships in 15 years. Tiger Woods, one incredible golf player, Jack Nicklaus, I don't know how many he has. But they lost more Grand Slams than they won. It happens." Enjoying a short holiday in Barcelona, Guardiola said he is just trying to live a "normal life" before football pulls him back in, with City set to play in the revamped Club World Cup in the United States from June 14 to July 13. 'Wake up later and don't be with the players. Try to live what would be a normal life,' Guardiola said. 'Go to a concert, lay down on the sofa, read books. I can play golf when my body allows me. Watch series that people suggest to me during the season to watch, like I'm not able to do. "And I want to tell you something. Usually, I'm going to do the same things as you do in your life.'
