Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now!
When the white smoke billowed from the Ibrox chimney in June and Russell Martin was revealed as the new manager of Rangers, vast swathes of the club’s fans could scarcely have been more unenthusiastic. Indeed, short of announcing that Pope Leo XV had left his new role at the Vatican and would be taking over after Barry Ferguson’s lengthy spell in caretaker charge, it is difficult to imagine any other appointment prompting more fury. “We’re not oblivious to the noise at all,” harrumphed the Rangers CEO, Patrick Stewart, upon being quizzed about fan reaction to his announcement. “But I think we are confident because we’ve embarked on such a thorough process to take us to this point where we’ve appointed Russell that we’re confident supporters will get behind him.”
Having paddled into Ibrox on such a tidal wave of antipathy, it seemed imperative that Martin got off to a good start and the man who masterminded just one win in Southampton’s opening 16 Premier League games last season before being booted towards the Saints door marked ‘Do one!’ has done exactly that. In closing out their aggregate win in a Bigger Cup second qualifying round against Panathinaikos, Russell’s Rangers have successfully negotiated the first hurdle of the season and now face Czech side Viktoria Plzen as they aim to reach the Bigger Cup league phase. But at the very least, last night’s draw in Greece means a place in Euro Vase is now guaranteed. “I’ve just said to the players in the dressing room, I’m so proud of them,” said Martin, after new signing Djeidi Gassama struck back to restore parity after Panathinaikos had opened the scoring. “To be five weeks into the process, from where they were to where they are is incredible.”
