Russell Martin to hand Rangers flop chance to resurrect Ibrox career already
Russell Martin has not been in the Rangers job long, but he is already starting to make key decisions at Ibrox.
One of the first things Martin must do is decide which of his current crop he wants to keep to start the new era under American ownership.
Of course, the former Southampton manager must also sign well if the Glasgow outfit are to make significant progress.
As Martin casts his eye over his Rangers squad, he appears to be open to giving an outcast another chance.
Martin to give Rangers man another Ibrox opportunity
After an extended spell of searching for a new manager, Rangers eventually decided Martin would be the man to boost the Scottish side.
Martin had been out of a job since mid-December when he was ousted as Saints boss by the then-Premier League club.
That relegation has not stood in his way, though, as he overcame Davide Ancelotti to be named as Rangers boss.
In light of the Glasgow club’s takeover, there is expected to be an overhaul of the Gers’ squad, which Martin will have influence over.
It seems that he is willing to give one player another chance despite spending the season away from Ibrox.
That man is Ben Davies, who will be offered the chance to resurrect his career in Scotland, according to the Scottish Daily Mail (7 June, page 117).
| Ben Davies’ 2024/25 League One statistics | Total |
| Matches | 35 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Touches | 88.6 |
| Accurate passes | 67.9 (88%) |
| Clean sheets | 20 |
They state that Martin is reluctant to close the door to any players before he has had the chance to assess them.
Davies made 35 League One appearances while on loan for Birmingham City last season, winning the third-tier title.
Why does Martin want to keep Davies?
Given that Davies spent the last campaign in League One, many will question why Martin may want to give him another opportunity.
Before his move to the West Midlands, the centre-back made 58 appearances for Rangers, having signed from Liverpool in 2022.
Davies was a regular starter in his first season at Ibrox, but he featured less and less before eventually departing.
The defender has shown his quality at times and has a superb attitude, while willing to fight on the pitch.
That is exactly what Martin will want from his side as he aims to build a team that will fight for the badge every game.
Of course, there is no guarantee Davies will be there next season, but there are signs he will be part of the Martin revolution.