Rangers

Russell Martin's understanding of the "size, pressure and expectation" at Rangers will only benefit the former Ibrox defender if he lands the vacant manager role, says ex-goalkeeper Cammy Bell.

The 39-year-old is reported to be the frontrunner - ahead of Davide Ancelotti - to become the permanent replacement of Philippe Clement, who was sacked 100 days ago.

Martin has been out of work since being dismissed by Southampton in December after a gruelling Premier League experience.

Some fans are underwhelmed by the potential appointment, but former Rangers goalkeeper Bell believes Martin's brief time on loan at Ibrox as a player in 2018 will "play in the favour" of the ex-Scotland defender.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, Bell said: "Having been there myself as a player and having that experience, I think it's really difficult for people who are from outside the country and don't know much about Rangers.

"Understanding the size of the club, the expectations of the club, the pressures of the club, all these things can get thrown at you. But until you actually experience it, I don't think you can really really understand it.

"That's one thing Martin's had. He had a short, brief spell at Rangers, but he understands the size, pressure and expectation that's going to be there daily.

"That is a factor and it will play in the favour of Martin as well."

Russell Martin is on the brink of becoming Rangers manager after fresh talks with new Ibrox bosses. (Scottish Sun), external

Former Rangers loanee Vaclav Cerny appears to have closed the door on the prospect of a permanent move to Ibrox this summer. (Daily Record), external

Read all of Wednesday's Scottish Gossip

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn says Russell Martin would be a "very good" choice as Rangers' new head coach.

Gunn witnessed the former Scotland defender's leadership qualities during their stint as team-mates at Norwich City in 2017 and believes he was unfortunate to be sacked by Southampton last season given the size of task promoted clubs face in the Premier League.

Martin, 39, has been heavily linked as the favourite to replace Philippe Clement at Ibrox.

"Obviously, I've only worked with him as a player at Norwich. Very intellectual guy. I went in there as a young goalkeeper and he helped me massively even though he wasn't in the team every week and playing regularly," said Gunn.

"He was the captain of the club and he had good relationships with everyone in the dressing room and it's obviously watching what he has done at Southampton.

"I thought he did incredibly well there and probably was unfortunate to lose his job there because it was always difficult for teams coming up from the Championship to even compete with some of the Premier League teams.

"I watch him now on the TV and the way he wants to play and his philosophy and I really hope whatever he goes on to in his career is successful.

"I don't know if he is going to Rangers or not but obviously he had a spell there as well so he knows the club a little bit. I think it would be a very good thing for Rangers, to be fair."

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The takeover of Rangers by an American consortium can "extinguish the rot" that has persisted since Craig Whyte's ill-fated reign, says departing director Alastair Johnston.

Whyte bought Rangers from Sir David Murray in 2011, ousting Johnston as chairman, and the club lurched to financial collapse the following year before re-emerging in the bottom tier of Scottish football.

Celtic have dominated the domestic game since, but Johnston is hopeful of brigther times ahead after a consortium led by healthcare tycoon Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises last week acquired a 51% controlling stake in the club.

Johnston, who returned to the board as a non-executive director in 2017 when Dave King was chairman, is standing down with a new-look board taking shape but the United States-based Glaswegian and lifelong Rangers fan is optimistic about developments.

The 76-year-old told the PA news agency: "I was asked to respond to a question at the Rangers AGM last December as to the options available to the club in order for it to return to its glory days.

"My comments were reported at the time as being somewhat bemusing. I responded by describing the current circumstances in English football about so many of the leading clubs being taken over by American investors and, in several cases, their approach included an ownership model that involved multiple teams.

"I was careful to insinuate that this was a hypothetical possibility. In truth, I was already aware of the interest that a group involving the 49ers had shown in Rangers and that we had already engaged in early-stage discussions with its representatives.

"Understandably, the possible investors wanted to maintain the utmost secrecy as to the direction of their mission.

"It took about six months for the Rangers board to reach a mutually acceptable arrangement that would be in the best interests of our club.

"Intense negotiations were conducted covering all facets of such an acquisition, and I am delighted we were able to capitalise on a collaboration that we believe will provide us with a platform to extinguish the rot that had befallen the club for a decade since the Craig Whyte fiasco."

Heavily linked with Rangers, former Real Madrid assistant Davide Ancelotti is a "hot contender" to take over at Swiss champions Basel. (Blick, external - in German)

Rangers face a battle to land Brazilian midfielder Metinho as Basel say they want to keep the 22-year-old permanently after his loan from Troyes. (Scottish Sun), external

Troyes would want £5m to part with Rangers midfield target Metinho. (Daily Record), external

Everton are just one of six Premier League clubs keen on Rangers midfielder Mohamed Diomande, but the Ibrox club are in no rush to sell the 23-year-old and would demand a substantial fee. (TeamTalk), external

Jamie Vardy is weighing up a move to Rangers as the 38-year-old striker's contract runs out with relegated Leicester City. (Daily Mail, print edition)

Former Rangers chairman Dave King has revealed the Ibrox club almost had Saudi owners before the US consortium's takeover. (Sky Sports), external

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Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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With new owners and new investment, the search for a new Rangers manager is coming to an end.

The takeover, led by private healthcare tycoon Andrew Cavenagh, gives Rangers fresh hope after watching another title win for Celtic.

Kevin Thelwell has now officially started as the club's new sporting director and has said he expects to conclude the search for a new boss in the next few days.

Russell Martin is a leading contender, while Davide Ancelotti is a strong option, but it has been a fluid situation up until now. Former Feyenoord boss Brian Priske had also been spoken to.

I appreciate how this may sound, but Martin is a better coach and manager than the first half of Southampton's Premier League season showed.

He is meticulous and has his philosophy - even if some may frown upon it - and that makes it easy to try to get it across to the players.

Martin did not have the quality of player at St Mary's and they lost out on several targets last summer - Ipswich's Liam Delap being one - and I've always felt if he had the right squad at his disposal, he would shine.

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Rangers' new ownership will have to ensure they "strike a balance" when it comes to their player trading, says former striker Rory Loy.

An American consortium, led by Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises, are now in charge at Ibrox after buying a majority stake and have pledged to invest £20m this summer.

The group are continuing their restructuring of the club by appointing Everton's former head of recruitment Dan Purdy as technical director to replace Nils Koppen.

The 49ers also own Leeds United and have gained a reputation for smart player trading at the newly-promoted Premier League club.

But Loy feels the owners will have to make sure they are signing players who can make an instant impact in the team, as well as viewing them as profitable assets.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, Loy said: "They're going to need to try and strike a balance when it comes to getting players in to develop them, to sell them on.

"I understand that's the model that they want to bring to the club and they've done it very successfully at other clubs. However, the difference here is Rangers fans expect to win trophies next season, they expect to win trophies every season.

"So you've got to strike a balance between bringing players in who are going to make the club money in the future and getting what they really need to get, instant success.

"You look at the likes of Hamza Igamane, who was a good signing, but they asked far too much of him. There was a period in the season where he was playing every week.

"He's not a signing who's going to come in and play every week. And that's because the other signings simply weren't good enough."

Everton have identified Rangers midfielder Mohamed Diomande as one of several midfield targets this summer. (Daily Express), external

Former club FC Twente are "seriously interested" in a return for Rangers defender Robin Propper. (soccernews.nl, external - in Dutch)

Left-back Ridvan Yilmaz is another Rangers player being linked with his former club as Beskitas begin transfer talks. (Aspor.com, external - in Turkish)

Dundee United owner Mark Ogren thinks the San Francisco 49ers' involvement with Rangers will increase revenue throughout Scottish football – and hopes it could be a step towards lifting the alcohol ban in stadiums. (The Athletic, external - subscription required)

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George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland

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When 49ers Enterprises completed a much-anticipated takeover of Leeds United in July 2023, the situation was far from rosy.

The West Yorkshire club had been relegated from the Premier League after a chaotic season featuring four different managers, and fans had been left in the dark after relegation was confirmed with a defeat by Tottenham Hotspur seven weeks prior.

There was no permanent manager following the conclusion of Sam Allardyce's short-term deal, and no sense of what the squad would look like for the season ahead.

And yet, two years on, they are a top-flight club once more.

Leeds chairman Paraag Marathe will now become vice-chair at Rangers after a US-based consortium completed their much-anticipated takeover, but what can the Ibrox club expect from a deal involving the 49ers?

CHOOSING THE RIGHT MAN

Marathe and co selected the right candidate to guide Leeds back to the Premier League and picking the right head coach is unquestionably the top priority for the new Rangers leadership.

Many a highly-rated manager has crumbled at both Ibrox and Elland Road given the expectation that comes from those two fanbases.

Daniel Farke had a track record of success in the Championship and was entrusted to do so again at Leeds, reaching 100 points and claiming the title in the 2024-25 season.

CANNY RECRUITMENT

United have recruited well under Marathe's leadership.

Crysensio Summerville, Georginio Rutter and the club's hottest prospect Archie Gray all left in the summer of 2024 after a play-off final defeat by Southampton.

Those sales demanded another rebuild, but Leeds cannily put together a squad that kicked on to new heights.

Influential centre-back Joe Rodon's loan deal was made permanent, while Jaden Bogle and Ao Tanaka were hugely impressive after signing for relatively low transfer fees from Sheffield United and Fortuna Dusseldorf respectively.

The side became less reliant on individual quality and functioned better as a unit in manager Daniel Farke's second season as manager.

SHUNNING THE SPOTLIGHT

Unlike previous regimes at Elland Road, Marathe is not a man to seek the spotlight.

He prefers to conduct business behind closed doors, only occasionally providing statements on club matters. What you do see is a polished, confident individual with a track record of success at high-profile sporting institutions.

Technical director Nils Koppen is set to depart Rangers after just six months in the role. (Record), external

Former Everton head of recruitment Dan Purdy will replace Koppen at Ibrox. (Rangers Review), external

Davide Ancelotti, 35, has told Rangers he is ready to step away from being father Carlo's assistant and be a success as a manager in his own right. (Record), external

Ancelotti is confident he can attract big-name players if he takes over at Ibrox. (Football Insider), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

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Having admired the work he did at Swansea City, Lee Trundle reckons Russell Martin would be "a brilliant fit" for Rangers.

Martin spent two seasons with the Welsh club before moving to Championship rivals Southampton in 2023.

He took the Saints to the Premier League via the play-offs but lost his job in December after just one win in 16 top flight games.

Now the 39-year-old is among the favourites to take over at Ibrox.

"He's a very clever manager," Trundle told Sportsound on BBC Radio Scotland. "I think he'd be a brilliant fit for Rangers.

"Man-management is probably one of his strongest points. Everyone at Swansea loved playing for him. He's honest with his players, he tells them what he needs."

Trundle, who starred for Swansea and now enjoys an ambassadorial role for the club, added: "You need to get the right players in for the way he wants to play. It's football from the back to front, fans need to be patient at times with the build-up.

"I don't think he has a plan A or a plan B, it's just the way he sees football. He thinks that is how the game should be played and he sticks with it.

"When you get it right, there's no one better to watch.

"At Southampton, when they were losing games, of course fans are going to be frustrated. He did really well with them to get them to the Premier League but then you go up another 100 steps."

Davide Ancelotti's move to Rangers as manager is 99% done. (Sestaporta, external, in Italian)

Rangers may spend big in an effort to back prospective new boss Ancelotti. (Football Insider), external

Meanwhile, Rangers' new owners plan to invest in the club's academy. (Team Talk), external

Wolfsburg's financial issues may boost Rangers' hopes of signing Vaclav Cerny, 27, on a permanent deal following his loan spell at Ibrox. (Record), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

We asked for your thoughts of the takeover of Rangers by an American consortium and what the new owners' priorities should be.

Here's what some of you said:

Mark: Hopefully this is the start of good things. Might take a few transfer windows to get everything in a strong position and hopefully see some stadium expansion as there's over 15,000 on the season ticket waiting list.

Ian: New era. Lets hope they stick with a long-term manager with proper plans, values and understanding. We are a huge club which has been rudderless, appointing poor quality managers and worse player recruitment. I'm confident we will be back at the top soon. We were not a million miles away and we certainly have the measure of the others across the city.

Sally: Great news for club and fans and investment welcome. Manager situation needs immediate attention and I would favour Davide Ancelotti. He has the potential to attract young footballing talent.

Stephen: This has to be considered a positive step for the club, probably something that's been needed for a long time. Bringing in people with a proven track record promotes confidence, and that's something Rangers have badly missed. I think the fans should back this 100%.

Luke: I'm absolutely delighted that it's taken place. I do feel that they're the right people to take the club forward, there's so much unrealised potential. I would like to see a calm and measured approach to upgrading the club and the playing staff. The other teams should rightly be worried, 49ers Enterprises have proved through their Leeds involvement that they don't muck around, so it's gonna be a lot of fun!

Les: Great news. Rangers have been pretty stagnant since they got back to the Premiership via the lower leagues, playing second fiddle to Celtic. Hopefully new investment and a new manager will take them back to where they belong.

Peter: Hopefully we've now not only got the cash needed to completely rebuild the team to bring the title and trebles back to where they truly belong at Ibrox. But I'm also hoping we can get a really good player trading model in place so that we can start making a profit instead of all these huge annual losses. Big news and just thankful it's now over the line so we can bring a good manager and decent players in. Looking good for the future right now and I'm excited.

Chris: Very impressed with the opening message from Andrew Cavenagh. We have been through many false dawns before, but I believe this time those sentiments mean the club will move forward and end Celtic's domination.

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Rangers' new leaders Andrew Cavenagh and Paraag Marathe say their "first priority" is to appoint a new head coach.

An American consortium, led by Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises, are now in charge at Ibrox after buying a majority stake in the club and have pledged to invest £20m this summer.

Kevin Thelwell, who will officially join as sporting director from Everton on Monday, has been working in the background on the search for a head coach along with the new owners, with Davide Ancelotti the frontrunner and Russell Martin also in the frame.

In an open letter to fans, chairman Cavenagh and vice-chairman Marathe said: "We are proud to be entering a new chapter for this extraordinary club. This moment is the result of months of thoughtful discussions with club leadership and our shared confidence in Rangers' success going forward.

"To that end we'd like to tell you a bit about our thinking.

"Simply put - our goal is to win trophies in Scotland and be able to compete at a high level in Europe, while laying a foundation of financial sustainability for the future.

"As our first step, we are investing fresh capital into Rangers, which will be strategically deployed on and off the pitch.

"While we recognise the importance of resources, we believe that thoughtful, disciplined investment, guided by a clear strategy, is the path to enduring success.

"Every decision, whether sporting or business, will be made with the club's long-term success and sustainability in mind.

"We aim to leverage the full strength of 49ers Enterprises' sporting expertise and operational experience, and are confident in Patrick Stewart and Kevin Thelwell to lead this next phase.

"Our first priority together is clear: hiring a new men's head coach. That process is already well under way, and we look forward to sharing more updates soon. We will also look to invest in talent for our teams.

"Moving forward, we are reconstituting the board to bring in a few new voices and skill-sets. We all owe a special thanks to the previous board for their service. They stepped up in a difficult moment when the club needed them and laid the foundation for what comes next.

"Above all, we know that true success comes from understanding and honouring what makes this club special. In our time getting to know Ibrox, Glasgow, and you, we've felt the pride, history, and passion that set Rangers apart.

"You have made it clear what this club means to you, and we take the responsibility of leading this club seriously."

Chris McLaughlin
BBC Scotland sports news correspondent

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Given the months of speculation, the takeover announcement comes as no surprise, but what it does give us is the first glimpse of what the new consortium are all about.

The fans have been forced to endure another season of Celtic dominance but, for them, the impending takeover has provided some light at the end of what has seemed like a tunnel with no end.

This is a fanbase bruised and battered by placing faith in saviours who, in recent years, promised a lot and delivered little. They should be forgiven for casting a suspicious eye over any group or individuals who claim that this time it will be different.

In that respect, the new group have said very little so far, but the news of a £20m investment - the vast majority of which, I've been told - will go on football operations, will be broadly welcomed.

Those who hoped the entire might of the San Francisco 49ers would be thrown at Ibrox on day one might, perhaps, be disappointed. However, that was never going to be the case.

It is £20m the club didn't have last week, but will it be enough to provide the immediate success the supporters crave?

Throwing money at footballing problems is only part of the answer. This new group feel their expertise will be as important as their financial muscle, and that will be interesting to monitor going forward. The takeover announcement is a milestone on a much longer journey.

Now it's about laying the rest of the path and proving with actions that they'll deliver what the fans have demanded for so long - the dominance of Scottish football.

A new era has begun at Rangers.

An American consortium, led by Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises, has taken control of the Ibrox club and promised £20m of investment in football operations this summer.

American health tycoon Cavenagh will replace Fraser Thornton as Rangers chairman, with 49ers Enterprises president - and Leeds United chairman - Paraag Marathe joining as vice-chairman.

Rangers say the new consortium's vision for the club will prioritise "on-pitch performance and long-term financial sustainability".

Rangers fans, what is your initial reaction to the takeover? Pure positivity or are there any reservations? And what should the new owners' priorities be this summer other than appointing a manager?

Share your views here.

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Andrew Cavenagh has expressed his determination to "bring Rangers back to where it belongs - at the top" after his American consortium completed its takeover of the club.

"We are deeply grateful for the trust placed in us by the Rangers board, shareholders, staff, and supporters," said Cavenagh, who will be ratified as Ibrox chairman next month.

"This club's history and traditions speak for themselves, but history doesn't win matches. We know that the true way to honour the club's heritage will be to drive performance. Our focus is simple: elevate performance, deliver results, and bring Rangers back to where it belongs - at the top."

Paraag Marathe, who will hold dual roles as Leeds United chairman and Rangers vice-chairman, said: "At 49ers Enterprises, we have built a track record of sporting and business success, but our driving motivation is our deep connection to the clubs and communities we serve.

"We are excited to join Andrew and our other consortium of investors in a new era for this iconic club, and we are determined to build something that supporters can be proud of for years to come."

Fraser Thornton, who relinquishes his role as Rangers chairman but remains on the board, said the new ownership "represents a significant step forward" for the club.

He added: "The incoming shareholders bring not only funding but also deep expertise in strategic planning, infrastructure development, and sporting excellence.

"On behalf of Rangers, I also want to put on record our appreciation to the outgoing board members who have selflessly served the club. I also want to acknowledge our major shareholders whose backing has brought the club to this point, the vast majority of whom have chosen to reinvest in the club and continue with us on the next stage of the journey."

Rangers have spoken to Francesco Farioli about becoming their new manager and the former Ajax boss will rival Davide Ancelotti and Russell Martin for the chance to replace Philippe Clement. (Scottish Sun), external

Steven Gerrard is out of the running to make a return to Rangers because the timing was not right despite positive initial talks. (Rangers Review), external

Read the rest of Friday's Scottish gossip.

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Rangers could appoint Davide Ancelotti as their new head coach by the end of this week, according to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague.

The Ibrox club held fresh talks with the Italian last week as they seek a permanent successor to Philippe Clement, who was sacked in February.

Chief executive Patrick Stewart is leading the recruitment process amid Rangers' ongoing takeover process and Balague says Ancelotti is the leading candidate.

"That's my understanding and for Davide, it's the first choice," Balague told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland.

"There is a waiting period here, because I've got the impression he would like everything wrapped up in the next few days.

"If Rangers delay, there are other options for him, including joining his father Carlo with Brazil. He has decided to be a number one and Rangers are his first choice.

"News could happen this week. That is off the back of the last meeting in London. If we reach 5 June, it might be too late and Davide might look somewhere else.

"We're talking about somebody who is going to have a very good career in football. He has been crucial in the period that Carlo Ancelotti has been at Real Madrid."

Balague also clarified comments he made regarding legendary Croatia midfielder Luka Modric and a potential move to Glasgow.

"It was a bit of a teaser," he said.

"What I said was that Luka was asked and he didn't commit to anything. The point was that Davide has access to big talent.