Russell Martin’s ‘kicking at Rangers’ tipped to prevent Southampton return
Russell Martin’s bruising experience in charge at Rangers could dissuade him from taking another job back at Southampton.
The 39-year-old’s dismal reign at Ibrox was brought to an end last month after just 17 games, making him the shortest-serving Gers manager in the club’s history, before eventually being replaced by Danny Rohl.
Martin was sacked by Rangers in the wake of the 1-1 draw with Falkirk, after which he had to be escorted from the ground by police, but has now been linked to a return to St. Mary’s in the wake of Will Still‘s firing on Sunday.
Martin was himself removed by the English side 11 months ago after taking them back into the Premier League but struggling mightily in the top flight on the way to an immediate relegation.
Former Sunderland, Aston Villa and Newcastle manager Steve Bruce reckons it is impossible to ever rule out a manager jumping at a job opportunity but suggested from his own experience that the problems Martin had in Glasgow might lead to him taking some time out to avoid a repeat.
Bruce warns Martin off Southampton after Will Still sack
Rangers are thought to have previously approached Still about taking over at Ibrox but were turned down in the summer.
He ultimately lasted little longer at Southampton than Martin did with the Light Blues. Both clubs have cycled through managers in recent months.
Bruce has suggested that rather than jump right back into the fire the former Rangers boss could do with some time away to regroup.
During a discussion live on talkSPORT about who will take over on the English south coast host Jim White asked: “If you’re Russell would you not think, ‘That’s a step backwards for me’?”
Bruce replied: “He might just think to himself, ‘I’m going to take a little bit of a break’. He’s just had a kicking at Rangers hasn’t he?
“And sometimes, I learned that from experience, that sometimes you need to take a little bit of a wait, and have a little look and a reflection of just what’s quite happened, ‘What did I do wrong? What can I do the next time? What would I guard against?’
“But it wouldn’t surprise me [taking the Southampton job]. We’re all football managers and if the opportunity comes along I wouldn’t be surprised if he went back in, but I think he might just take a bit of time.”
Russell Martin era at Rangers a nightmare for all concerned
Bruce knows a thing or two about taking a kicking from his own fans as he has seemingly drawn the ire of supporters on multiple stops through his managerial career.
Managing both Sheffield United and Wednesday, Newcastle and Sunderland, plus Birmingham and Aston Villa and West Brom might have something to do with it, but either way it means he’s pretty well placed to offer Martin some advice.
However, on the basis of his short time back at Ibrox as manager, or for that matter the latter stages of his original Southampton job, the ex-Scotland international might just as well do a self-review and come to the conclusion that he was in the right all along.
And unwillingness to waver from his perceived principles has seen him sacked twice in the past year amid increasing bitterness, and while Southampton in the second tier is somewhere he’s had obvious success before he could surely do with a bit of time outside the spotlight after his Rangers nightmare.
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