The classy Russell Martin act during Norwich banishment that shows Rangers would be getting leader of integrity

Daily Record

2 days ago

Michael McGovern knows Martin inside out from their time at Norwich City and showed just how high his standards are
The Norwich City first-team players sat together having dinner at the pre-season German training camp.
At a separate table, was their club captain Russell Martin.
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Banished to the reserves after nine years of service at Carrow Road - his team-mates wondered how the Scotland defender would react.
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Given how he'd been treated by the Carrow Road hierarchy at that point, Martin would have been forgiven for throwing his toys from the pram.
Inside, he must have felt disrespected and harshly treated. But McGovern, who was the Canaries' goalkeeper, says Martin's conduct on that summer trip didn't just tell you about him as a professional.
He says it told him everything about Martin's character as a man. And it's something the former Northern Ireland number one has never forgotten.
McGovern believes the episode towards the end of Martin's career at Norwich is a clear indicator of his own standards.
And he's convinced that bodes well for Rangers and their players should Martin become Ibrox gaffer in the next few days.
The 39-year-old head coach is on the verge of being named as Philippe Clement 's successor.
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And McGovern, who spent two years with Martin in Norfolk, is adamant it would be a good appointment from Gers' new American owners and sporting director Kevin Thelwell.
The former Falkirk and Hamilton number one was hugely impressed by Martin as a player - and has watched his managerial career closely.
But it was his behaviour in Germany seven years ago that made a lasting impression.
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He told Record Spor t: 'Russell is a real leader. And at Norwich, that was within the whole club - not just the dressing-room.
'He knew everybody and treated them all with respect. He was a proper captain.
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'I was really impressed by him since the first day I met him. And seeing how he conducted himself, that didn't change.
'Towards the end of his career at Norwich, he had been frozen out of first-team and was ordered to go and train with the Under-23's.
'We were in Germany and he was with the U23's group, separate from the first-team - even though he'd previously been club captain.
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'That summer, he had to deal with real adversity. But in situations like that you really saw the character of the man.
'And he was exactly the same as he'd always been, when he was playing every week. Russell acted with real class and integrity.
'On that pre-season trip, he sat and ate with the U23's while we were at a separate table.
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'But he conducted himself in such a classy manner. That always stuck with me because something like that is a mark of the man.
'He didn't change. He didn't spit the dummy out, he just got on with his job.
'That's why he had the total respect of everyone at the football club.
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'And I think that tells you what he'll be like as a manager. From what I've heard, he's a players' manager.
'I've had feedback from various clubs about Russell. All the players like him - but he's also got that side to him where you wouldn't want to cross him.
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'You must have respect if you're playing under him. I think it would be a good appointment from Rangers.'
Martin is renowned for his possession-based style of football, which was successful at MK Dons, Swansea City and Southampton.
But when he stuck to his principled in the Premier League with Saints, they were found out and Martin was sacked in December with the club heading for a quick-fire relegation.
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McGovern believes Martin's philosophies CAN work in the Scottish Premiership at Gers - but warned it will take time to implement.
He said: 'I think it can work in Scotland. It's been proven at different levels down in England already.
'But what I'd say is that it will probably take time at Rangers. And they'll have to get the recruitment right.
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'I remember watching Southampton when he hadn't long taken over there.
'It was only a couple of games in and the players were struggling with it, playing out from the back and keeping possession.
'But everyone stuck together and they got promoted that season.
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'So there might be a few teething problems at Rangers to start with but Russell has his own principles and beliefs - and he won't change, he'll always stick to them.
'That's the way it'll be for Rangers going forward.
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'It'll be short passing, keeping the ball, a little bit different to what the players there will be used to.'
McGovern, who came through the ranks at Celtic as a young keeper, feels Martin's arrival could help Rangers mount a bigger challenge to their Old Firm rivals for honours next term.
Especially, if he's backed by the club's new American owners and chairman Andrew Cavenagh.
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He said: 'If the gets the job, they have to back him by adding quality players.
'Russell is one of the best up and coming managers in the UK, he's very well thought of within the game.
'So it would be a good appointment from Rangers.
'With the new owners coming in, they'll be looking to improve and the league and challenge for the title, more than they have done for a few years.'
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