As ever when a manager is fired – Philippe Clement got the boot at Rangers on Sunday night – the early list of potential replacements veers wildly from style to CV.
Rangers reportedly held talks with Sean Dyche and Steven Gerrard. The former available after leaving Everton, and the latter on the market three years after guiding the perennial runners-up to their only Premiership title of the last decade.
There have been links with former Huddersfield Town and Schalke boss David Wagner too, while Rangers News have been told Derek McInnes may be tempted to leave Kilmarnock for a stab at the job he turned down while in the Aberdeen hotseat eight years ago.
But as far as former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday is concerned, there is one name which leaps off the page when discussing potential successors for Philippe Clement.
Rangers hired Barry Ferguson on an interim basis partly because, as a former captain and five-time Premiership champion, he knows what is required to succeed in this glaring goldfish bowl.
Russell Martin might not have enjoyed the same level of success or longevity in Scotland – he played only 17 games during a brief spell in the 2017/18 season – but Halliday feels that his free-flowing, possession-based style should leave the former Southampton coach fairly high up on any managerial shortlists.
Andy Halliday talks up Rangers hiring Russell Martin
“I would be surprised if it’s Sean Dyche,” Halliday begins. “[But] I have seen Russell Martin is linked. That’s one that divides opinion but I think he’d be a good appointment.”
Martin’s reputation certainly took a hit following a dismal start to the Premier League campaign with Southampton. Just nine points to their name, The Saints could yet replace Derby County as officially the worst team in the competition’s over 30-year history.
The ex-Scotland international deserves credit for taking Southampton back to the promised land in the first place, however.
Halliday also feels that Martin could be the most appropriate candidate if Rangers are serious about fixing their long-standing Achilles heel up against low-blocks.
Clement’s side were arguably at their least effective when dominating possession against poorer teams. Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat to St Mirren was proof. Seemingly unable to raise their tempo or create the interchanges required to pick the padlock.
Halliday looks at Southampton’s promotion-winning campaign last season and sees a potential solution. Martin’s team averaged the most possession in the Championship [65 per cent] but also produced the second-most shots per game [15.2] and the third most goals [87].
Halliday thinks former Southampton boss could solve big Rangers issue
“You are talking about style of football,” Halliday adds. “You are talking about styles and how to break down opponents. He’s shown thats kind of what he’s best at. If you’ve got investors coming in who are going to back him as well…”
Si Ferry, co-host of the Open Goal podcast, thinks that Martin’s struggles down south over the last few months said more about the quality of Southampton’s squad compared to the rest in the Premier League.
A case in point; Vincent Kompany took Burnley down in 2023/24 while attempting to play a modern brand of stylish, possession-based football. The former Manchester City captain has since taken over at Bayern Munich and looks destined to end the current campaign with a Bundesliga title, the Bavarians arguably playing their best football in years.
“He’s going have the best players in the league,” Ferry says. “It’s not like he’s at Southampton and he is trying to play this way with the worst players in the league!”
