Russell Martin says James Tavernier will remain Rangers captain
Martin, who played briefly with James Tavernier during a loan spell at the club in early 2018, was unveiled as the successor to Philippe Clement on Thursday.
The Rangers squad will return for pre-season training on June 23. Martin will work alongside new sporting director Kevin Thelwell and technical director Dan Purdy across the summer transfer window to remould a squad to fit his style of play.
Martin was unveiled as Ibrox boss on Thursday (Image: Steve Welsh)
Tavernier, who has worn the armband since 2018, remains under contract at Rangers until the summer of 2026 and will enter his testimonial year this summer.
The right-back continues to divide opinion amongst supporters. He broke the record for the most goals scored by any British defender in 2024, but has also been on the losing side of the last four league titles.
'First and foremost, [he'll be important in terms of] explaining to me and having a discussion about the last two years, his thoughts on the team,' Martin said.
'His thoughts on what we're going to bring and how the players will feel about that.
'I think to play here for as long as he has, to be captain for as long as he has, takes a lot of energy. It's not easy. I've been at a club where sometimes you're the one who's been there the longest and you end up getting criticised a lot because you've been there the longest. You're an ageing player and all that stuff.
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'I think he's been so important for this team and this club on and off the pitch, and I'm looking forward to chatting in more detail with him and speaking to him about it all. Then how much he gets used on the pitch will be down to Tav and how he trains and how he plays, the same as every player.'
Tavernier has been a constant at Rangers since arriving under the management of Mark Warburton. To some, he is a player the club need to move on from, to others, Tavernier has been a victim of his circumstances, who can perform well in better circumstances.
Martin continued: 'He's going to be hugely important in the culture. I know what he's like a person behind the scenes and he's fantastic. He really was when I played with him and hopefully it hasn't beaten him up, too much football.
'It doesn't seem like it has. He still seems like he plays with a big smile and a lot of enthusiasm. It does carry a big weight to be captain of a club this size. I think he's done it incredibly well. How much he plays on the pitch, I can't sit here and tell you he's going to play 50 games, 20 games, whatever. It will be down to him in the way he performs and the way he buys into it, which I'm pretty sure he will.'
Asked if Martin would be comfortable with Tavernier being the captain of his Rangers side, Martin continued.
'If he's playing. He's been the captain for a very long time. I don't see any reason to change that. And if he's not playing, it will force someone else.'
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