In the history of Scottish football, there have been fewer managerial tenures that flashed brightly and fizzled out with such fanfare than Russell Martin’s 123-day adventure at Rangers.
It started with a PowerPoint presentation in the boardroom and finished with a police car. In between, there were throw-ins, plastic pitches, and a tanker that never materialized.
Let’s go back.
The Interview That Launched a Thousand Groans
It was during the summer of last year, when Davide Ancelotti was next in line at Ibrox, that Russell Martin received one last chance to make his case.
And make his case he did. Informed insiders at the club had it that he “knocked it out of the park.” Unfortunately, all that he knocked out of the park thereafter was Rangers’ hopes in Europe, form domestically, and morale among supporters.
Martin’s “tour-de-force” interview turned a 40-60 long shot into a 60-40 favorite. He was hired. And that was the highlight.
Excuses Ran Like Lava
Martin’s post-match interviews were a weekly ritual of excuse-making. Falkirk’s plastic pitch. A deflected shot. A misplaced throw-in. Every week there was a new scapegoat. The one person who never seemed to be on the list? Martin himself.
After being defeated by Sturm Graz, he complained of a botched throw-in. After the Falkirk draw, he had a complaint about the grass. It was like watching an individual try to describe a car crash as blaming weather, road, tires, and GPS, never the driver.
Tactical Mastermind or Tactical Guesswork?
Martin’s choice of moment was similar to soap opera plot twists. He left out club captain James Tavernier for loan player Max Aarons and then had a change of heart. He sent Nico Raskin, one of the team’s top performers, into exile, then spent weeks apologizing.
Had the team been winning, these choices would have been regarded as bold ones. As things turned out, they were similar to a guy playing darts blindfolded and saying he hit the bullseye.
£40 Million Spent, Yet No Clue
Excessive spending, £40 million gross, £20 million net, was undertaken by the new owners. Martin did not sign the players, but he inherited the mess. And like a mate trying to fix a leaky boat with a colander, he sank fast.
Kevin Thelwell and Patrick Stewart, the lads behind the scenes, are next. Spoiler alert: it’s not a love song. Now that Martin has gone, they’re next for the fury of the fans. Thelwell’s solution? Appoint his son as head of recruitment. Because nothing proclaims “new ideas” like nepotism.
The Old Firm Graveyard Adds Another Tombstone
Martin takes his place among Rangers managers whose time in office was briefer than an average summer. Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Michael Beale, Philippe Clement, poof, gone like magic.
Martin’s 17-game stint was the football equivalent of speed dating with a flamethrower.When fans applaud a goal and jeer the manager simultaneously, you know the curtain is coming down.
Last Words
Russell Martin’s Rangers experience was an education in how to mess up a football club. It had it all: drama, delusion, distraction, and a tanker which never got turned.
Eventually, even achievement was not sufficient to shelter him.Rangers go back to the market for managers now, searching for the next visionary with the next PowerPoint. Good luck to this one having a money-back guarantee.
About the Author
