Russell Martin is plotting a raid on Rangers already as he prepares to take charge at Leicester City.
Martin’s tenure as Rangers head coach lasted just 123 days – the shortest managerial reign in the club’s 154-year history – before he was sacked along with his backroom staff following a disastrous start to the 2025-26 season.
Now on the verge of being appointed as the new Leicester manager following their relegation to League One, Martin is moving quickly to reassemble the team around him, and his focus has turned back to Ibrox.
He has already made his move for long-term assistant Matt Gill, who has been working as James Morrison’s assistant at West Brom since being sacked alongside Martin last October.
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Martin plots Rhys Owen raid as Leicester move edges closer
According to the Daily Record, Martin is now preparing to target Rangers’ head of performance Rhys Owen – a key member of his backroom setup who remained at Ibrox after his sacking and has since worked under Danny Rohl.
Owen’s history with Martin runs deep, as the pair worked together at Swansea City before following him to Southampton when the 40-year-old was appointed Saints boss in 2023.
That relationship continued in Glasgow when Martin arrived at Ibrox as the 49ers Enterprises‘ first head coach last summer.
Crucially, Owen has not yet informed the Gers hierarchy of any intention to leave, but senior figures at the club expect it to be a matter of time before Martin makes his formal approach for his former colleague.
It would not be a surprise to see the former Rangers defender swoop in for the club’s sports science chief as soon as he is appointed as the Leicester boss.
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What it means for Rangers
Losing a head of performance of Owen’s experience mid-rebuild would be an unwanted complication for Rohl as he prepares for a crucial pre-season at Auchenhowie.
Sports science and performance staff rarely make headlines, but their influence on player fitness, injury prevention and physical development is profound.
Rangers will hope to retain Owen, but Martin’s pull may prove difficult to resist.
It also remains to be seen if the would-be Leicester boss has any plans to raid the Premiership heavyweights for any of their players.
