Russell Martin urged to shake-up Rangers transfer strategy as ex Ibrox star open up on differing English mentality
Russell Martin has so far limited himself to shopping in the English market.
But Andy Little reckons the new Rangers boss could do with browsing the aisles of the Scottish summer sales.
Joe Rothwell, Max Aarons, Thelo Aasgaard, Emmanuel Fernandez and Nasser Djiga have all followed new gaffer north of the border.
But so far the only Tartan import is Lyall Cameron, who was signed on a pre-contract from Dundee by former coach Philippe Clement.
Little, though, is concerned there by the lack of local flavour in the team. The ex-Ibrox utility man broke through back when Walter Smith was the man in charge of a team containing Scotland stars Allan McGregor, Davie Weir, Kris Boyd, Kenny Miller plus a host of other dependable homegrown recruits.
But Cameron is now joining a squad where Scots are very much in the minority, with Liam Kelly, John Souttar and Connor Barron the only first-team regulars.
Little, though, believes that small contingent will have a big role to play this season. He said: "We had very experienced, natural born winners in the team and consistent performers.
"They were typically home-grown which I think is important. I think a huge volume of Russell Martin's recruits should be home-grown because it's a football club that you have to understand is a little bit different.
"I played down south in England and there is a different mentality. There are so many games you just have to get over a defeat or a draw quite quickly.
"You certainly didn't get the same uproar after a bad result as you did in Glasgow.That's something as a player you have to get used to. The new manager has a bit of experience of that as a player here."
Little's Ibrox breakthrough coincided with a time when the club was Champions League regulars, reaching the group stages three times in five years. It's now Russell's task to return the club to that stage but Little admits: "I think it's getting harder and harder to do that.
"Financially we're so far away from the top teams in Europe, in England especially. It's a money-driven sport now and Rangers and Celtic will need to keep performing above themselves in terms of budget to get in there.
"They need to outperform where they should be to progress into Champions League football and that's very, very difficult. To be honest, I've really enjoyed watching Rangers in the Europa League.
"We've had some fantastic times and really memorable runs and matches. The last Champions League campaign was a bit of an embarrassment really, as a club.
"Celtic have had their troubles as well. I think the second tier of European football can actually be the better place to be.'
Martin will have to hope he enjoys better luck on the injury front that predecessor Clement. The Belgian's Ibrox tenure was beset by a succession of fitness set backs to key men.
If there's anyone who can sympathise with that it's Little, who was forced to at 29 as his body broke down. He said: 'I honestly believe certain players are built to play 50 games a season and never have a problem, and others just aren't.
"I really do believe that. Looking at my own example, I worked harder than anyone else and I know that for a fact. I did everything I could to stay fit and be fit. I did whatever it costs to do that.
"I went to Italy to get a gumshield fitted at one point, because I was told it would realign my posture and stop me getting hamstring injuries. It didn't work!
"So I believe you're either built to be a professional athlete, or you're going to struggle to perform and perform and perform.
"From a recruitment point of view, I think it's key to try and find these players that can cope with a very intense schedule at Rangers. You'll be playing Thursday-Sunday-Thursday-Sunday and it's not just that.
"You have to come in and perform at 100 percent. You can't come in and just play at 70 or 80 percent, where I think you can do that at other clubs and get away with that. You're under so much pressure and scrutiny.
"I think the club needs to do so much better from a recruitment point of view. That's a no-brainer. But there is also a massive element of luck with injuries."
* Andy Little was speaking as he promoted his business Gallus Sales & Lettings and the opening of his new high street store on Paisley Road West near Ibrox Stadium. For more info on his business life after football visit www.gallussaleslettings.com
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