Summary

  • Russell Martin appointed Rangers head coach on three-year deal

  • The 39-year-old former Scotland defender spent time at Ibrox as a player

  • He will be joined by assistant Matt Gill and performance coach Rhys Owen

  1. It's goodbye from me, and it's hello from him...published at 12:06 British Summer Time 5 June

    That's it folks for this morning's live coverage of Russell Martin's presser.

    We learned plenty about the new Rangers head coach, and you can read plenty about it on the BBC Sport website, and also on our dedicated Rangers page which will also have loads of bespoke content.

    TTFN.

  2. Some photos of this morning's action at Ibroxpublished at 12:04 British Summer Time 5 June

    Russell MartinImage source, SNS
    Kevin Thelwell, Russell Martin and Patrick StewartImage source, SNS
    Russell MartinImage source, SNS
    Russell MartinImage source, SNS
    Russell MartinImage source, SNS
    Russell Martin at IbroxImage source, SNS
    Russell MartinImage source, SNS
  3. 'A collaborative approach' - Thelwell on Rangers recruitmentpublished at 12:03 British Summer Time 5 June

    Media caption,

    Thelwell on recruitment

  4. Postpublished at 11:59 British Summer Time 5 June

    One last wee clip from us coming from Kevin Thelwell...

  5. 'We can improve in all areas'published at 11:55 British Summer Time 5 June

    Ultimately Rangers fans will be looking for an immediate bounce. Not just from Russell Martin, but also from the club's new board and owners.

    But what is realistic in the short term?

    "It's much easier to answer in four or five weeks when we've had some training time and we've added to the squad," said Martin.

    "We can improve in all areas, we can be better. Time will tell.

    "I'm not going to make any promises, but we will be all-in to make the team better."

  6. First impressionspublished at 11:52 British Summer Time 5 June

    Kheredine Idessane
    BBC Scotland at Ibrox

    First impressions of Russell Martin?

    Very positive. He speaks well, has a clear vision of what he wants to do and how he wants his team to play, and is a big advocate of the one thing that could get him what he wants - hard work.

    He's clearly delighted to be the new Rangers head coach and says he wants to make up for his time here as a player when, to paraphrase his own words, he wishes he could have offered more.

    He's driven, motivated and has a clear footballing philosophy. I asked him at the end if he expected to be given time. He isn't. He said he needs to win early. By that I thought he meant trophies. He clarified that as winning games.

    Clearly, however, he knows he has to deliver for an expectant club and support. One thing is also clear - he is not afraid of the challenges ahead.

    Russell MArtinImage source, SNS
  7. 'My whole career based on proving people wrong'published at 11:50 British Summer Time 5 June

    One interesting question from the press ranks... "You've seen bad side of Rangers. Did that put you off?"

    "That only played positively, how intense the support is and how passionate they are," said Martin diplomatically.

    "I've thought only about the positives and if we get this place going, how strong and powerful that can be.

    "I have a lot to prove. My whole career has been based on proving people wrong. I got to the Premier League as a player, played international football. It's the same as a manager.

    "I feel after five-and-a-half years of being a coach and a leader, I love doing it. I will be all-in here with my energy and my love for it. Hopefully it will reflect on the pitch."

    Media caption,

    Martin on proving people wrong

  8. Postpublished at 11:47 British Summer Time 5 June

    And that's him done. Russell Martin is about to make the short journey out of the Rangers press room, turning left in the narrow dressing room corridor and left again into the tunnel and out trackside for his next round of press snaps.

    Rangers fans, what did you think?

  9. Nearly done...published at 11:45 British Summer Time 5 June

    A wee drop more from Russell Martin as his grilling from the Scottish press edges closer to a conclusion: "It's not about style, it's about consistent level of application and desire and intensity, because things will change week-to-week in terms of what we're up against.

    "What I want them to see is the same mentality all the time because the game throws up a lot of variables after that."

  10. 'My career based on hard work and resilience, not talent'published at 11:42 British Summer Time 5 June

    As we've seen, there's been some negative feedback from fans. Some on this page...

    "The supporters are the most important people at any football club," said Martin.

    "My job is to give them a team they identify with and they are proud of. A team that wins.

    "A team that's going to give everything. One thing that's always overlooked with our teams is they always run the most out of possession, because they have to if they want to dominate the ball and be aggressive.

    "It's not a given, it's an attribute - you need to work hard, not everyone has that. We want people like that to come to the club.

    "To the fans, I have to win. I don't think I've been the number one choice at any club I've been at. By the time we've left every team I've been at, we've formed a real connection with the supporters. I hope this will be the same.

    "My whole playing career was based on hard work and resilience. It was not done on talent."

  11. 'We're here to win in the best way we can'published at 11:41 British Summer Time 5 June

    Media caption,

    Martin on his style of play

  12. Improvements on and off the pitchpublished at 11:39 British Summer Time 5 June

    What is success for Russell Martin?

    "It's to win trophies," he said. "It's to build a culture that we are proud of and people can feel when they come into the building. An environment of hard work, of honestly and of openness.

    "To see a team that doesn't look different every week, that is always trying to improve and develop in our own way, rather than focusing on the opposition too much. We're going to do it our way and we're all going to be on the same page.

    "We have to improve the team on the pitch and improve the environment off the pitch."

  13. Postpublished at 11:36 British Summer Time 5 June

    What a photo this is.

    Russell Martin walking by picture of Walter SmithImage source, SNS
  14. 'I know the expectation'published at 11:33 British Summer Time 5 June

    On the level of expectation on him, Russell Martin said: "I've managed three clubs, all with the same concept of the game - to be the aggressor with the ball and without it.

    "They all played different shapes and different people making up different positions.

    "We are here to win and we will do that in the best way we possibly can.

    "That is what Rangers fans expect, to be really aggressive, really intense, really passionate, really hard-working first and foremost.

    "I know the expectation here is to win. We want to do that in a way that's aligned with how we want to feel about the team and how Rangers fans want to feel about their team."

  15. 'Don't judge me as a player'published at 11:31 British Summer Time 5 June

    "I played here for a very short period," said Russell Martin.

    "When I look back on my playing career, the one thing that hurt me a lot was that it didn't go well here.

    "I wasn't quite in the right place physically to do as well as I possibly could. I'm desperate to show a different version of myself.

    "It's really exciting, the whole thing. I was honest from the outset that this was my first choice and I'm delighted I'm now here."

    Russell MartinImage source, SNS
  16. Martin 'grateful & excited' for Rangers challengepublished at 11:30 British Summer Time 5 June

    Media caption,

    New head coach Martin relishing Rangers task

  17. 'Taking time to reflect and review'published at 11:28 British Summer Time 5 June

    "There were a few opportunities since I left Southampton, but I wanted to take time to reflect and review what we've learned as a coaching staff and what I've learned as a leader and a coach.

    "That time was really important.

    "When this one was first suggested, this was the one I really wanted. One because of the expectation and the size of it, what it means to so many people. The opportunity to come here and experience something different to anything else in football."

    Russell Martin unveiledImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Kevin Thelwell, Russell Martin and Patrick Stewart in the Blue Room at Ibrox this morning

  18. 'A clear football style'published at 11:25 British Summer Time 5 June

    Here's some more from Rangers chief executive Patrick Stewart.

    "I'm really delighted to br introducing Russell to you as the new head coach of Rangers.

    "Russell's appointment is the culmination of a number of steps we've been working on since I joined Rangers.

    "We've been identifying a clear football style and identity and in Russell, we've got a head coach that aligns with that style and identity.

    "We're looking for a head coach who will improve our culture, develop our squad and ultimately win matches. Russell has been the standout candidate.

    "Russell is no stranger to our club. We expect success and Russell knows that."

  19. 'It's an incredible feeling'published at 11:23 British Summer Time 5 June

    Russell Martin tells the room: "It's an incredible feeling. I'm really grateful to the board, to Patrick, to Kevin, for their faith in me.

    "It's been a tough and rigorous process and it's taken some time, but that's what you expect when you want to be manager of a club of this stature, size and expectation.

    "I'm desperate to get started and I'm excited about what's to come."

  20. Sip of water, chaps?published at 11:22 British Summer Time 5 June

    Kheredine Idessane
    BBC Scotland at Ibrox

    Ever the gentleman, Russell Martin's first act is to pour some water for Kevin Thelwell, his new sporting director, before taking a sip himself.