Latest news with #Martin
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Rangers transfers: Russell Martin reveals timeline for 'exciting' new arrivals plus updates on Cyriel Dessers and John Souttar
Head coach expects new faces for Champions League qualifier Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Rangers head coach Russell Martin has revealed that he expects new signings to arrive in time for the Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos next month. Martin will begin his tenure against the Greek side in the second qualiyfing round of Uefa's elite competition with the first leg at Ibrox on Tuesday, July 22 following by the return in Athens a week later. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The former MK Dons, Swansea, Southampton boss hopes to hit the ground running and expects his cause to be helped by new arrivals ahead of the European showdown. Russell Martin expects Rangers to make new signings before the Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group Asked by Sky Sports how many ins and outs he is anticipating this summer, Martin said: "I honestly don't know but I think we'll have a few [in] before the European game, that'll be for sure. Everyone is working extremely hard. The bulk of work over the past week or so has been identifying character and talent that we want in the building that can add to this group and add to us culturally and in terms of performance. I'm excited about the people we're starting to look at, and hopefully will add." Martin expects striker Cyriel Dessers to report back for the start of pre-season training on Monday despite reports linking last season's Scottish Premiership top scorer with a move to AEK Athens. "The updates will come as and when they are actually real," Martin said. "At the minute, I'm expecting hom to return on Monday and I'm looking forward to working with him." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Rangers defender John Souttar in action for Scotland during the international friendly against Iceland at Hampden Park on June 6. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group The Rangers boss also confirmed that defender John Souttar will be fit to face Panathaniakos after delaying surgery on a hernia issue until after the Scotland international friendlies.
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Russell Martin in unfiltered Rangers address as he sticks up for Souttar, buzzes over transfers and Dessers vow
The new Light Blues addressed a number of issues ahead of a return to pre-season training Russell Martin revealed it was John Souttar 's decision to delay his hernia operation because he was desperate to play in Scotland's friendly double header - as the new Rangers boss admitted he's buzzing at the calibre of potential new recruits. last week, after playing in low key bounce games for Steve Clarke's side against Finland and Liechtenstein which caused anger among some Gers fans. Martin - who will travel to Fir Park for the Scottish Premiership opener in front of the Sky Sports cameras on August 2 - is confident the 28-year-old will be fit for the massive Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos. And he hopes to see the ex Hearts man joined by several new faces as Rangers prepare to ramp up their recruitment drive before their Euro showdown with the Greeks. Martin was also tight-lipped on striker Cyriel Dessers who we revealed has shaken on a deal with AEK Athens, with both clubs still negotiating a fee. Martin's men return to training on Monday and, speaking to Sky Sports, he addressed our story on Souttar, explaining: 'It's really difficult. John wants to play for his country and so many players, especially at the end of the season, get lambasted for pulling out of games or not going away for international games, for whatever reason. 'So he made a decision. He had a minor injury and was desperate to play for his country, which I admire, so the plan was to get it sorted after it. "So he's had a minor op and we expect him to be fit for the Panathinaikos game so it hasn't really affected the preparation. He's been able to go away and play and be ready for us.' On new signings, he said: 'We'll have a few before the European game, that's for sure. Everyone is working extremely hard. The bulk of the work has been about identifying character and talent we want in the building who can add to this group and add to us culturally and performance as well and I'm excited about the people we are starting to look at and hopefully will add.' Asked if there was any news on an exit for Dessers, he said: 'The updates will come when they are actually real. At the minute I'm expecting Cyriel to return on Monday and looking forward to working with him.' It's been a hectic start to life as Gers boss and he said: 'It's been everything I thought it would be: intense, great. But the real work starts on Monday - every manager and coach loves being on the grass and I'm really excited about it. 'Panathinaikos is incredibly exciting, it's going to be an amazing atmosphere at Ibrox. "People have said to me it's maybe the most difficult tie we could have got but if we want to compete in Europe we're going to have to beat some good teams, some really good teams. 'We'll be ready for it, we know what we're working towards now so we can have a good look at them but the work's going to be about us and making sure in the next three to four weeks the players, and we, know what it's going to take and open to learning and we can put in a performance we can proud of 'The priority is to work the players physically and tactically to get them to understand what we are demanding early on and what the team is going to look like. And also hopefully to add a few players to the group , I think we are all excepting that. It's exciting and we get the international players back a week later so we have a good bit of time to work with them.' The first Old Firm derby of the season takes place on matchday four at Ibrox on August 31 but Martin said: 'I'm not sure it matters when you play them (Celtic). We expected it to be early, it usually is, but we have a lot of games to focus on before then and a lot of work to do before then but they are exciting games, special games.' Martin is desperate to get Rangers off to a flyer after false starts in each of their last two seasons with an opening day to trip to Motherwell and a dug-out duel with his old Norwich City team-mate Jens Berthel Askou. It will be Martin's first domestic game in charge of the Light Blues, with the Sky Sports cameras heading to Lanarkshire for the 5.30pm kick off on Saturday, August 2. Rangers have a huge Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos before the new season kicks off. But Martin is desperate to build momentum with Philippe Clement held at Hearts on the opening day last season and Michael Beale losing at Kilmarnock 12 months prior to that. The 39-year-old said: 'It's really important to start well and build momentum, for us, for the fans, the club but it won't define our season so we have to make sure we're ready to perform in the European game before that, we have to make sure were ready again to go. 'It's exciting. We have a lot to do and a lot to focus on before then - a big European game - but it's one I'm looking forward to. "Me and Matt Gill played with Jens, the new manager at Motherwell, so it will be interesting. 'We've exchanged messages and knowing Jens and how intense he was about his work as a player and how he is as a person - seriously professional, intelligent - he'll have them very well organised and prepared. 'We have to make sure we're ready for any challenge whether it's Motherwell, European games, the Old Firm games, any of them - we need to be ready and we have a lot to do. 'We have a lot of work to do physically, tactically, the players haven't been in the building yet - they come back Monday which I'm excited about but we have something to work towards.'
North Wales Chronicle
2 hours ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Rangers boss Russell Martin begins Premiership reign with trip to Motherwell
Martin's first William Hill Premiership match in charge will see him go head to head with former Norwich team-mate Jens Berthel Askou, who was recently installed as Motherwell manager. The fixture will kick off at 5.30pm on Saturday, August 2 and will mark the weekend of the 130th anniversary of the first game at Fir Park. There is only one Premiership game taking place at 3pm on the Saturday, which sees Stuart Kettlewell start his Kilmarnock reign with the visit of newly-promoted Livingston. Falkirk end their 15-year absence from the top flight with a home game against Dundee United the following afternoon in one of four matches to be screened live by Sky Sports over the opening fixture card. Former Hearts captain Steven Pressley begins his first league campaign as Dundee head coach at home to Hibernian on the Sunday, following the Leith club's Europa League tie with Midtjylland. Champions Celtic will unfurl the league flag later that day ahead of hosting St Mirren in a 4.30pm kick-off. Hearts and Aberdeen fans will need to wait until 8pm on the Monday to see their teams start the season at Tynecastle as new head coach Derek McInnes begins his Premiership campaign at home against one of his former clubs. Martin's first league game at Ibrox will kick off at 5.30pm on August 9 with Dundee the visitors in a game to be shown live by Premier Sports. Celtic have the chance to atone for their Scottish Gas Scottish Cup final defeat by Aberdeen when they travel to Pittodrie the following day for a 12.30pm kick-off. There are no league games in the third weekend of August with the second round of the Premier Sports Cup taking place. Rangers head coach Martin will experience his first derby in charge on Sunday, August 31, when Celtic visit Ibrox for a noon showdown. The festive schedule is slightly less hectic than usual with only one midweek slot rather than the usual two. Six matches are scheduled for Saturday, December 27, including an Edinburgh derby at Easter Road, which has been earmarked for live television coverage at 12.30pm. There is a full fixture card three days later with Celtic travelling to Fir Park before hosting Rangers in a 12.30pm kick-off on Saturday, January 3. All teams – including a Dundee derby at Tannadice – play that afternoon. There are six midweek fixture dates in total including two in succession in early February, either side of the Scottish Cup fifth round. The final games before the split are pencilled in for April 11, when St Mirren will be aiming to seal a fourth consecutive top-six finish when they travel to Celtic Park. As in recent seasons, there is a full midweek card in the final week of the season, which ends on May 17-18. The SPFL season in general will kick off on Friday, August 1 when Arbroath return to the Championship with a home game against Ayr United. St Johnstone return to second-tier football with a home game against Partick Thistle the following day and will face fellow relegated side Ross County in the second weekend of the season. East Kilbride's first SPFL game will see Spartans visit K-Park in a League 2 encounter on August 2.
Rhyl Journal
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Rangers boss Russell Martin begins Premiership reign with trip to Motherwell
Martin's first William Hill Premiership match in charge will see him go head to head with former Norwich team-mate Jens Berthel Askou, who was recently installed as Motherwell manager. The fixture will kick off at 5.30pm on Saturday, August 2 and will mark the weekend of the 130th anniversary of the first game at Fir Park. There is only one Premiership game taking place at 3pm on the Saturday, which sees Stuart Kettlewell start his Kilmarnock reign with the visit of newly-promoted Livingston. Falkirk end their 15-year absence from the top flight with a home game against Dundee United the following afternoon in one of four matches to be screened live by Sky Sports over the opening fixture card. Former Hearts captain Steven Pressley begins his first league campaign as Dundee head coach at home to Hibernian on the Sunday, following the Leith club's Europa League tie with Midtjylland. Champions Celtic will unfurl the league flag later that day ahead of hosting St Mirren in a 4.30pm kick-off. Hearts and Aberdeen fans will need to wait until 8pm on the Monday to see their teams start the season at Tynecastle as new head coach Derek McInnes begins his Premiership campaign at home against one of his former clubs. Martin's first league game at Ibrox will kick off at 5.30pm on August 9 with Dundee the visitors in a game to be shown live by Premier Sports. Celtic have the chance to atone for their Scottish Gas Scottish Cup final defeat by Aberdeen when they travel to Pittodrie the following day for a 12.30pm kick-off. There are no league games in the third weekend of August with the second round of the Premier Sports Cup taking place. Rangers head coach Martin will experience his first derby in charge on Sunday, August 31, when Celtic visit Ibrox for a noon showdown. The festive schedule is slightly less hectic than usual with only one midweek slot rather than the usual two. Six matches are scheduled for Saturday, December 27, including an Edinburgh derby at Easter Road, which has been earmarked for live television coverage at 12.30pm. There is a full fixture card three days later with Celtic travelling to Fir Park before hosting Rangers in a 12.30pm kick-off on Saturday, January 3. All teams – including a Dundee derby at Tannadice – play that afternoon. There are six midweek fixture dates in total including two in succession in early February, either side of the Scottish Cup fifth round. The final games before the split are pencilled in for April 11, when St Mirren will be aiming to seal a fourth consecutive top-six finish when they travel to Celtic Park. As in recent seasons, there is a full midweek card in the final week of the season, which ends on May 17-18. The SPFL season in general will kick off on Friday, August 1 when Arbroath return to the Championship with a home game against Ayr United. St Johnstone return to second-tier football with a home game against Partick Thistle the following day and will face fellow relegated side Ross County in the second weekend of the season. East Kilbride's first SPFL game will see Spartans visit K-Park in a League 2 encounter on August 2.
Leader Live
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Rangers boss Russell Martin begins Premiership reign with trip to Motherwell
Martin's first William Hill Premiership match in charge will see him go head to head with former Norwich team-mate Jens Berthel Askou, who was recently installed as Motherwell manager. The fixture will kick off at 5.30pm on Saturday, August 2 and will mark the weekend of the 130th anniversary of the first game at Fir Park. There is only one Premiership game taking place at 3pm on the Saturday, which sees Stuart Kettlewell start his Kilmarnock reign with the visit of newly-promoted Livingston. Falkirk end their 15-year absence from the top flight with a home game against Dundee United the following afternoon in one of four matches to be screened live by Sky Sports over the opening fixture card. Former Hearts captain Steven Pressley begins his first league campaign as Dundee head coach at home to Hibernian on the Sunday, following the Leith club's Europa League tie with Midtjylland. Champions Celtic will unfurl the league flag later that day ahead of hosting St Mirren in a 4.30pm kick-off. Hearts and Aberdeen fans will need to wait until 8pm on the Monday to see their teams start the season at Tynecastle as new head coach Derek McInnes begins his Premiership campaign at home against one of his former clubs. Martin's first league game at Ibrox will kick off at 5.30pm on August 9 with Dundee the visitors in a game to be shown live by Premier Sports. Celtic have the chance to atone for their Scottish Gas Scottish Cup final defeat by Aberdeen when they travel to Pittodrie the following day for a 12.30pm kick-off. There are no league games in the third weekend of August with the second round of the Premier Sports Cup taking place. Rangers head coach Martin will experience his first derby in charge on Sunday, August 31, when Celtic visit Ibrox for a noon showdown. The festive schedule is slightly less hectic than usual with only one midweek slot rather than the usual two. Six matches are scheduled for Saturday, December 27, including an Edinburgh derby at Easter Road, which has been earmarked for live television coverage at 12.30pm. There is a full fixture card three days later with Celtic travelling to Fir Park before hosting Rangers in a 12.30pm kick-off on Saturday, January 3. All teams – including a Dundee derby at Tannadice – play that afternoon. There are six midweek fixture dates in total including two in succession in early February, either side of the Scottish Cup fifth round. The final games before the split are pencilled in for April 11, when St Mirren will be aiming to seal a fourth consecutive top-six finish when they travel to Celtic Park. As in recent seasons, there is a full midweek card in the final week of the season, which ends on May 17-18. The SPFL season in general will kick off on Friday, August 1 when Arbroath return to the Championship with a home game against Ayr United. St Johnstone return to second-tier football with a home game against Partick Thistle the following day and will face fellow relegated side Ross County in the second weekend of the season. East Kilbride's first SPFL game will see Spartans visit K-Park in a League 2 encounter on August 2.
