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Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Win fans over and dismantle Celtic – Russell Martin has work to do at Rangers
The former MK Dons, Swansea and Southampton manager takes over from Philippe Clement, who departed in February and was replaced by interim boss Barry Ferguson. The appointment of a new boss comes following the confirmation of the takeover by an American consortium of Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers Enterprises while Kevin Thelwell recently officially joined the Light Blues from Everton as the new sporting director. It's all change at Ibrox and, here, the PA news agency looks at the in-tray awaiting Martin who has to quickly get his side ready for July's Champions League qualifiers. Win over the fans ✍️ Our new Head Coach, Russell Martin. — Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) June 5, 2025 There has been a mood of disgruntlement among many Rangers fans before and since the confirmation of Martin as the new man in the hotseat. Rangers supporters are unhappy with his performance in the Premier League, where he was sacked by Southampton after a horror start to the season, after bringing them up through the play-offs. There is the perception that Martin was too dogmatic in his possession-based style of play and paid the price in the English top flight. He is already under severe and unprecedented pressure to hit the ground running. Squad overhaul Ianis Hagi has left Rangers (Steve Welsh/PA) There's plenty of work to be done to overhaul Rangers' squad which ended up trophyless last season, albeit reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa League. Rangers confirmed the departures of Ianis Hagi, Leon Balogun and Tom Lawrence with their contracts set to expire. Loanees Vaclav Cerny, Neraysho Kasanwirjo and Rafael Fernandes have also left the club while players like Robin Propper, Nedim Bajrami, Ben Davies, Kieran Dowall – the latter two who spent last season at loan at Birmingham – are expected to depart. Midfielder Lyall Cameron will arrive from Dundee but he will not be alone. Arguably, a new goalkeeper, right-back, left-back, two centre-backs, two wingers, a number 10 and a striker is required. Of course, much will depend on the style favoured by Martin and how much money is made available but the Light Blues will have a new look next season. What to do with Raskin and Dessers? Nicolas Raskin is a key man for Rangers (Andrew Milligan/PA) Midfielder Nicolas Raskin is arguably the club's biggest asset following a terrific season during which he broke into the Belgium national side. The 24-year-old, who signed from Standard Liege in January 2023 for a reported fee of around £1.3million has two years left on his contract. Rangers fans remain disgruntled about players like Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos who were allowed to run down their deals and leave for nothing. Enigmatic Cyriel Dessers has often been a frustrating figure since signing from Cremonese in 2023 but ended up top scorer in the Premiership last season with 18 goals while he netted 29 times for Rangers in total, taking his tally over two seasons to 51. Rangers fans appear split on whether the Nigeria international, contracted to 2027, should stay or go. But how much would it cost to replace him with a striker who guarantees the same goal return? Trophies needed Russell Martin guided Southampton through the play-offs (Adam Davy/PA) Martin may just have walked in the door but he will be expected to win silverware this season with Celtic dominating Scottish football. Rangers fans watched their Old Firm rivals clinch their 13th league title in 14 seasons – albeit the Light Blues had a better head-to-head in league games – and only a Scottish Cup final defeat to Aberdeen on penalties denied the Hoops a sixth domestic treble in nine years. It will be down to Martin to change that direction of travel. Euro qualifiers next month The appointment of Martin dragged on and Rangers are facing a race against time for next season. The Light Blues will have to go through three rounds of qualifying in order to reach the league phase of the Champions League, the first of which is July 22-23. Rangers return for pre-season training on June 23 and, somehow, Martin needs to assemble a squad to hit the ground running.
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Win fans over and dismantle Celtic – Russell Martin has work to do at Rangers
The appointment of a new boss comes following the confirmation of the takeover by an American consortium of Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers Enterprises while Kevin Thelwell recently officially joined the Light Blues from Everton as the new sporting director. It's all change at Ibrox and, here, the PA news agency looks at the in-tray awaiting Martin who has to quickly get his side ready for July's Champions League qualifiers. Win over the fans ✍️ Our new Head Coach, Russell Martin. — Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) June 5, 2025 There has been a mood of disgruntlement among many Rangers fans before and since the confirmation of Martin as the new man in the hotseat. Rangers supporters are unhappy with his performance in the Premier League, where he was sacked by Southampton after a horror start to the season, after bringing them up through the play-offs. There is the perception that Martin was too dogmatic in his possession-based style of play and paid the price in the English top flight. He is already under severe and unprecedented pressure to hit the ground running. Squad overhaul Ianis Hagi has left Rangers (Steve Welsh/PA) There's plenty of work to be done to overhaul Rangers' squad which ended up trophyless last season, albeit reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa League. Rangers confirmed the departures of Ianis Hagi, Leon Balogun and Tom Lawrence with their contracts set to expire. Loanees Vaclav Cerny, Neraysho Kasanwirjo and Rafael Fernandes have also left the club while players like Robin Propper, Nedim Bajrami, Ben Davies, Kieran Dowall – the latter two who spent last season at loan at Birmingham – are expected to depart. Midfielder Lyall Cameron will arrive from Dundee but he will not be alone. Arguably, a new goalkeeper, right-back, left-back, two centre-backs, two wingers, a number 10 and a striker is required. Of course, much will depend on the style favoured by Martin and how much money is made available but the Light Blues will have a new look next season. What to do with Raskin and Dessers? Nicolas Raskin is a key man for Rangers (Andrew Milligan/PA) Midfielder Nicolas Raskin is arguably the club's biggest asset following a terrific season during which he broke into the Belgium national side. The 24-year-old, who signed from Standard Liege in January 2023 for a reported fee of around £1.3million has two years left on his contract. Rangers fans remain disgruntled about players like Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos who were allowed to run down their deals and leave for nothing. Enigmatic Cyriel Dessers has often been a frustrating figure since signing from Cremonese in 2023 but ended up top scorer in the Premiership last season with 18 goals while he netted 29 times for Rangers in total, taking his tally over two seasons to 51. Rangers fans appear split on whether the Nigeria international, contracted to 2027, should stay or go. But how much would it cost to replace him with a striker who guarantees the same goal return? Trophies needed Russell Martin guided Southampton through the play-offs (Adam Davy/PA) Martin may just have walked in the door but he will be expected to win silverware this season with Celtic dominating Scottish football. Rangers fans watched their Old Firm rivals clinch their 13th league title in 14 seasons – albeit the Light Blues had a better head-to-head in league games – and only a Scottish Cup final defeat to Aberdeen on penalties denied the Hoops a sixth domestic treble in nine years. It will be down to Martin to change that direction of travel. Euro qualifiers next month The appointment of Martin dragged on and Rangers are facing a race against time for next season. The Light Blues will have to go through three rounds of qualifying in order to reach the league phase of the Champions League, the first of which is July 22-23. Rangers return for pre-season training on June 23 and, somehow, Martin needs to assemble a squad to hit the ground running.
Daily Record
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Rangers transfer masterplan on hold amid Mulligan and Cerny 'talks' as Bajrami 'offer' follows £120m pledge
There is set to be big money swirling around Ibrox this summer amid the blockbuster US takeover It's a big summer for Rangers with the club in the midst of a takeover and searching for a new manager. That hasn't stopped the early moves in the market being made with Ianis Hagi, Tom Lawrence and Leon Balogun heading for the exit door along with loanees Neraysho Kasanwirjo and Vaclav Cerny. But fans are more concerned with players who are coming into the building for the next man in charge - with the American tycoon Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers Enterprises set to choose between Russell Martin and Davide Ancelotti. The wait has sparked a stumbling block in the deal - with the Light Blues in talks to follow up their pre-contract agreement with Dundee's Lyall Cameron by taking Josh Mulligan from Dens Park. Record Sport transfer guru Scott Burns has revealed that the Ibrox powerbrokers have held talks with the out of contract 22-year-old. However, the majority of transfer business is on hold until the club they sort their next manager - with Charlton Athletic also eyeing Mulligan. With talks paused for Mulligan it appears to be a similar story for winger Cerny. The prospect of a permanent deal appears to be drifting with Fotomac reporting that Trabzonspor have "entered talks" with Wolfsburg over a deal - with the German side keen to sell. Takvim also report that Rangers have held conversations with the Bundesliga outfit but Trabzonspor are "confident" of landing the Czech international. Reports also suggest that Gers chiefs are keen on snapping up £1m-rated LASK defender George Bello. The 23-year-old is out of contract in the summer of 2026 and Football Insider claim that he has been scouted by the Scottish Premiership side - with West Brom also on alert. In terms of outgoings, Nedim Bajrami's status appears to be up in the air - despite Record Sport understanding the Albanian is keen to stay in Glasgow and fight for his place in the team under the new boss. After a disappointing first season in Scotland, Sassuolo are reportedly considering making a move for the playmaker 12 months after his exit. However, Gazzetta dello Sport claim and offer of around £2.1million will be put on the table - substantially less than the £3.4million splashed by the Ibrox men last summer. Another midfielder looking to make a mark at Ibrox next season is youngster Blaine McClure as he returns from a spell at Kelty Hearts. The has told the incoming next boss that he returns to the Premiership as a more confident player. He told the club's website: 'I definitely took more confidence from my game, especially playing against more experienced players. 'I feel as if I've proved myself as well, going out and getting men's football. "I also feel as if I've added a streetwise element to my game, because going there, if you're one or 2-0 up and going for the win, you need to be more streetwise than at Under-18s level. 'Those players have been in the game a long time and they drill it into you. I feel more confident after going out and testing myself." The rising transfer murmurs come amid the backdrop of speculation that the NFL giants could offer Rangers the same financial promise that they offered Leeds United. The Elland Road owners will issue around £120million worth of new shares in the club after winning the Championship - with investors told the nine-figure influx will be put towards stadium redevelopment and the summer transfer business. And chairman Parag Marathe promised supporters: "Together we are going to build the best squad we can, with every penny we are allowed to spend to be competitive in the Premier League. "We are going to attack the transfer market and it's something I'm really excited about." 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 bitesize chunks.
Daily Record
22-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Rangers transfer plan kickstarts after takeover crew 'lesson' with Bajrami exit 'likely' and Jefte stance clear
The new owners are set to take their Elland Road experience and apply it to a busy summer at Ibrox It's a big summer for Rangers with the club set to have new owners and a fresh face in the Ibrox dugout. But the turnover is also underway at Ibrox with Ianis Hagi, Tom Lawrence and Leon Balogun heading for the exit door along with loanees Neraysho Kasanwirjo and Vaclav Cerny. And they are unlikely to be the only players heading out of the club - with chairman Paraag Marathe already making the 49ers Enterprises transfer strategy clear ahead of the imminent takeover. American tycoon Andrew Cavenagh and the NFL giants investment wing are inching closer to control of the Scottish Premiership giants imminently. Marathe has hinted that a player trading model will likely be installed - as he made clear the 49ers' vision for Leeds United after they claimed promotion to the Premier League. Marathe was put on the spot about the plans for the upcoming window after brining the Championship title to Elland Road, stating: 'Probably it's going to be a mix of seeing if there are inbounds along with outbounds [transfers]. "That's probably accurate, but I'm really not ready to go into more detail than that. "But you know, we are looking at maximising what we can do, and so that involves, you know, the whole bag, ins and outs. 'You've got to nail your transfers. You've got to nail the players that come in that really fit the style of play that you want to have fit the club and and play it together cohesively. 'I think that's really important. Yeah, [there were] some lessons learned from the three years when I was sitting as a vice chairman, watching us do what we did those three years." And while it's clear the incoming owners have no fears over making major changes - reports in Albania suggest that Nedim Bajrami could be heading for the exit door. The 26-year-old made the move to Glasgow last summer in a £3.4million deal from Italian club Sassuolo, but has struggled to hold down a regular starting spot under either Philippe Clement or Barry Ferguson in his debut campaign. Panorama Sport claim that Bajrami already has two options - on in Serie A and another in the Bundesliga. A departure is said to be "likely" if a suitable offer is made. A big money asset for Rangers new owners looks to be Jefte - with reports in January suggesting Chelsea were among the interest parties. While Record Sport understands there was no direct contact with the Premier League giants - a big offer could tempt the new owners to cash in. But it's clear the man himself is in no rush to leave - as he gushed about his time with the Light Blues so far. He told Globo: "My entire journey, since I arrived, has always been with the aim of trying to learn more and understand my position better. And what I should do on the field to help my teammates. "Reaching the end of the season and seeing that it worked is gratifying. I managed to become a different player, a better player who learned more and understood more. "This start to the year at Rangers has been wonderful, very special, even though our goal was to reach the finals and win titles, which unfortunately didn't happen. "This season as a whole, I have been very happy. Every day I have spent with my teammates training and playing, I have learned a lot from them. "What I'm experiencing is a dream, it's something I never imagined I'd experience so soon. "Despite being only 21 years old, I played in a European competition against big clubs. I'm very happy and fulfilled with what I've done so far." Any big payday could prove tempting for the new owners as they look to navigate UEFA's spending cap. The rules were introduced in June 2023 in a bid to slashing overspending by clubs and specifically names the outlay on 'player and coach wages, transfers and agent fees" must be under the threshold. With Rangers eyeing Champions League football through the qualifying stage they will also have to comply with the guidelines in the new era.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Windass urges Tavernier to move
Josh Windass urges Rangers captain James Tavernier to move on from Ibrox and find a club where he is "respected". (Glasgow Times), externalDanny Murphy believes former Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard can help Rangers bridge the gap to Celtic, should he return to Ibrox as manager. (Sun), externalSteaua Bucharest owner Gigi Becali launches a bid to sign free agent Ianis Hagi, 26, following the midfielder's departure from Rangers. (Herald - subscription required), externalRead Thursday's Scottish gossip
