Steven Naismith shares new Rangers pressure as Celtic claim made
Russell Martin has a massive job on his hands at Rangers after being appointed the new manager at Ibrox.
The 39-year-old head coach will take charge of the Gers next season, and fans will hope they can immediately compete with Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.
Martin will know the challenges at Ibrox, but he may have a few advantages, considering he has previously played for the Light Blues and comes in after a rather underwhelming season in G51.
Kevin Thelwell will arguably be pivotal in ensuring the ex-Southampton boss has the best chance of succeeding at the Bears in the upcoming campaign.
Rangers recruitment must be perfect as that has been difference for Celtic
Celtic’s successful recruitment over the years adds pressure at the Gers to get things right this summer, Steven Naismith says.
The former Scotland international believes the Light Blues could potentially have a short-term transformation if they get their signings right in the coming weeks at Ibrox.
Naismith wants to see the Light Blues get fresh faces in quickly and have a good start to the upcoming campaign under Martin.
| Scottish Premiership table | Points |
| 1. Celtic | 92 |
| 2. Rangers | 75 |
Speaking on PLZ Soccer (20 June), the ex-playmaker said: “Short-term, the biggest thing that’s going to transform Rangers is their recruitment. I think in previous seasons, you’ve seen how big an impact it can have for the wrong reasons. I think now you need to make sure you get it right.
“And when you look at Celtic and how successful they’ve been in recruitment over the years, that probably adds a bit of pressure that Rangers need to make sure they make good signings quickly and get a fast start in the league.”
Martin should demand major investment at Ibrox in transfer window
Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises may be willing to spend around £20million this summer after completing their takeover of the Gers.
The Light Blues begin pre-season training on Monday (23 June), and Lyall Cameron is the only new addition to the team so far.
Martin’s first competitive fixture against Panathinaikos in the Champions League second qualifying round will be a significant test for him, as he could potentially be without John Souttar, who recently underwent surgery.
Rangers will be without some key players like Vaclav Cerny, Ianis Hagi and Leon Balogun next season, and their replacements are needed.
The Gers will arguably have to spend a hefty sum to build a team capable of competing with Celtic next season and prevent them from winning their fifth consecutive Scottish Premiership title.
With the Ibrox faithful frustrated with the faults of the previous regime, the US consortium have a chance to make massive changes at the Light Blues, but initial indications haven’t been encouraging as they scramble to bolster the squad.
The Bears have typically left it late in previous transfer windows to complete their business, and it remains to be seen whether that will remain the same under the new ownership.