Former Rangers striker offers surprise backing to Russell Martin

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Ibrox Noise

·25 September 2025

Former Rangers striker offers surprise backing to Russell Martin

James Beattie has given his verdict on the intense pressure Russell Martin faces in the Ibrox hot seat. The former Rangers and England striker offered a revealing insight into what it takes to manage Rangers and how difficult the environment can be when results fall short of expectations. His words arrive at a time when Martin remains under heavy fire from supporters despite edging to a much-needed win at the weekend. James Beattie on Russell Martin is interesting reading.

Beattie, who carved out a long career in the Premier League, spoke with authority about the relentless scrutiny that surrounds a club of Rangers’ stature. He emphasised the scale of the challenge in Glasgow, pointing to the weight of history and the uncompromising demands of the fans.

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With Martin battling to steady the ship in Govan, Beattie’s intervention is striking in both tone and timing. He set out exactly what the manager needs to do if he is to survive the turbulence and hinted at how he can build momentum from recent results. The detail of his message offers a sharp reminder of just how brutal life can be in the Rangers dugout — and why only the strongest managers can withstand it.

He said:

“I think Ibrox is a tough, tough place to manage. As a manager, you’ve got to be resilient, and you’ve got to, firstly, understand the job in hand, which is managing probably one of the biggest clubs in Britain.

“You’ve got to realise that the fans, you know, won’t take it lightly if the team isn’t winning, especially at home, but in general as well.

“I’d encourage Russell Martin to stick to his guns. He’s got to be strong, he’s got to be strong-minded. If you remember, there was a little bit of criticism against Russ for sticking to his guns in the Premier League when, in fact, he may not have had the quality of players to execute his preferred style of play.

“He’s his own man and I’m sure, when he took the job on, he probably knew that it entailed situations like what he currently finds himself in. He’s got to be strong and build on what was a better result against Hibernian at the weekend.

“I hope that for him, and the club, that the progress can continue.”

Beattie was speaking on behalf of Midnite, club sponsors of both Sheffield United and Southampton. Midnite will be putting on free coach travel – dubbed The Midnite Express – for Saints fans for their trip to Sheffield United on Tuesday, September 30.

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Former Rangers striker offers surprise backing to Russell Martin | OneFootball

Former Rangers striker offers surprise backing to Russell Martin

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