Russell Martin: Rangers agree terms with former Southampton, Swansea and MK Dons boss to be new head coach | Football News

Russell Martin has agreed terms to become the new Rangers head coach.

The former Ibrox defender is set to sign a deal to succeed Philippe Clement in the dugout.

It is understood Rangers are close to finalising the appointment.

Sky Sports News revealed on Tuesday that the club were in advanced talks with the former Southampton, Swansea and MK Dons boss.

More to follow….

‘Martin ticks the most boxes for Rangers’

Former Rangers striker Steven Naismith, who played over 50 times alongside Martin at Norwich and Scotland, believes the appointment is the right choice.

He told Sky Sports News: “Developing players, the recruitment side of it and attacking football [are all issues] that have been labelled at the team for too long. I think they’re all strengths that Russell brings.

“I think in every name that’s been mentioned and linked towards the job, I think he probably ticks the most boxes for what’s required at the club at this moment.

“The most common thing I would imagine everybody’s heard is the leadership aspect. That was very clear from the first time I played with him.

“I know he spoke about his people skills and things like that. He knows how to get the best out of players, staff and those behind the scenes at Norwich. He was a big part of what their success was, as a club.

“His knowledge and his intelligence of the game is really good. I think even way back then when we were in our mid-twenties, he had a hunger to learn about the game.

“He had a bold style that he believed in. As players, you sit and think, how realistic is that? He’s shown it from MK Dons to Swansea to Southampton. He’s been clear with it.

“He’s produced performances and results that have gotten a quick path to the Premier League as a manager, which is very impressive.

“He’s a brilliant communicator. I think that’s been the clearest thing at each club very quickly. That style, you can identify it, you can see it. He’s intelligent. He’s somebody who learns from mistakes. He’s done that as a player.

“You listen to any player that’s worked under him, it’s all very positive because of that communication. He’s demanding, but he comes across at the right moment, in the right way, whether it’s putting his arm around a player or being a bit more aggressive with what he wants.

“I think the communication skills are massively important because I think the Rangers fans and Scottish fans in general, they’re no mugs. Talking around about a subject doesn’t wash, they want straight to the point.

“I think a few of the fans at Rangers will remember him as a player and that’s probably not the best image of him. As a coach, he’s the opposite of what he was as a player. He was a defender, somebody who obviously tried to stilt the game coming to the end of his career.

“But as a coach, he’s a forward-thinking coach. He’s an attacking-minded coach. That, for me, is the biggest benefit and probably the biggest thing that gives you hope going into a club where you play against a low-block the majority of the time.

“Him being a player here will have helped. He was at the club at a really tough time and he’ll know what’s coming if things aren’t working.

“Russell is a strong, strong character. I think he never hides. He never backs away from a challenge.”

Sky Sports to show 215 live PL games from next season

From next season, Sky Sports’ Premier League coverage will increase from 128 matches to at least 215 games exclusively live.

And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League games next season are on Sky Sports.