Jim White slams Russell Martin to Rangers news: ‘They could do better’
Jim White has criticised the Rangers board following news that ex-Southampton boss Russell Martin is set to take over as the new manager at Ibrox.
Rangers‘ last permanent head-coach, Philippe Clement, was sacked in February after 16 months in charge, with club legend Barry Ferguson then installed as interim boss until the end of the season.
Ferguson was able to win just six of his 15 games in charge of the Glasgow giants, and the club officially confirmed that he would be leaving his caretaker post after the last game of the campaign against Hibernian.
The US-based consortium of Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises completed their takeover of the Gers last week, and numerous managers have since been named as potential hires as their search for a new head-coach hots up.
Ex-Gers boss Steven Gerrard rejected Rangers’ advances, while Real Madrid assistant Davide Ancelotti was mooted to take over at Ibrox, but the 49ers now look to have reached their decision with Martin due to take charge ahead of a huge summer transfer window.
Jim White slams Rangers’ decision to appoint Russell Martin
Rangers are believed to now be closing in on appointing the ex-Southampton boss, according to Sky Sports, after weeks of searching headed by new sporting director Kevin Thelwell and CEO Patrick Stewart.
Speaking live on talkSPORT (3 June), presenter and lifelong Rangers fan [The Sun] Jim White admitted that he was unimpressed with Martin’s impending Ibrox arrival, saying: “When it’s down to this kind of thing, when it’s down to names like this, no, I think they could do better. I think they could think out the box more.”
He also added: “Is it a sensible draw? Possibly. He has got Premier League experience and he is a former player, he was on loan at Rangers.”
Martin has a lot to prove at Rangers after Southampton struggles
Football Insider verdict
Martin does have past experience at Rangers, having played 17 times for the Ibrox outfit during a loan spell from Norwich City in the 2017/18 campaign.
His managerial career began at MK Dons in 2019, and his impressive stint in charge of the club led Swansea City to appoint him in 2021.
Two mid-table Championship finishes followed in South Wales, but despite mixed results Martin gained supporters throughout higher reaches of English football and so was named as the new Southampton boss in June 2023 after their relegation from the Premier League.
The former Scotland international’s maiden season in charge at St Mary’s saw him lead the Saints back to the Premier League through the play-offs, but their return to the top-flight did not go as planned.
| Games managed | Wins | Draws | Losses | Points-per-game (PPG) |
| 73 | 34 | 13 | 26 | 1.58 |
Martin was only able to guide the club to one win in their first 16 league games at the start of the last term, and he was duly sacked in December with Southampton bottom of the league.
His next job now looks set to be at Ibrox, and his lack of experience and success at the top level is understandably set to see supporters question whether he is really the right man for the job.
The 49ers are certainly taking a gamble by appointing the 39-year-old ahead of a huge summer and season in which they will need to challenge Celtic for the Scottish Premiership title following last season’s latest disappointment.