Russell Martin is hoping to ‘have one or two people in to help us’ for the Champions League Second Round qualifiers on July 21/22 and 28/29.
Most Ibrox fans would be delighted if only one or two players from last season survive through to next season’s Revolution.
News that Martin was the last contender standing for the Ibrox job was met with an outflow of personal abuse on social media following the Tuesday tweet from Fabrizio Romano.
Even by their own toxic standards the reaction was extreme, after dreaming of Jose Mourinho or Jurgen Klopp expectations had dropped to settle on Dave Ancelotti whose surname was certain to bring some comfort.
Lurking in the background was the vegan Buddhist that is a member of the Green Party, last season Southampton picked up five Premiership points in 16 matches before their directors got round to sacking Russell Martin.
A worldwide search for Phil Clement’s successor lasted 103 days to uncover a guy that has been looking for a job since the turn of the year.
On Wednesday morning the loyal messengers delivered a wave of feel good stories that started to convince Ibrox fans that their new boss is a rising star- just like Micky Beale in 2023.
As expected Martin delivered a very polished performance to the media on Thursday, even his critics reluctantly admitted that he spoke very well.
No specifics were discussed, nothing on the future of James Tavernier, nothing on the size of the transfer war-chest, how many players need bought and sold.
In a one-on-one interview with Sky Sports Martin gave the game away on how many new players he wants in the squad that will face Panathinaikos, Servette or Brann Bergen at the end of July.
7 minutes
There are a few positions where we’ll need to strengthen fairly quickly and fairly early on. But also, I’m willing to be surprised and open to being surprised by some of the players we have here.
The way we’re going to work and play is going to give them the best chance to show us what we’ve got and give us the best version of themselves. Hopefully, one or two surprises.
We’ll need some help before that game for sure. But until we get in here and assess everyone, how many we’ll need before that game and how realistic that is is unclear because football and the business of the transfer window can be difficult.
But I’m pretty sure by then, we’ll have one or two people to help us and add to the group.
Vaclav Cerny, Ianis Hagi, Tom Lawrence and Leon Balogun have left the club that finished 17 points behind Celtic and trophyless.
Pre-season training starts on June 23, giving Martin one month to shape a team to get through three Champions League qualifiers or start the season on the back foot.
Andrew Cavenagh’s power grab won’t be completed until after the June 23 leaving very limited time for Martin to prepare for two critical matches before the end of July.
Most Ibrox fans would be happy to see a completely new defence and goalkeeper, Nicky Raskin and Mohamed Diomande are thought on as world-beaters but up front there isn’t much beyond the potential of Hamza Igamane.
Unless some incredible business is done, which Martin isn’t expecting, the team sheet for his first match in charge will include names like Jack Butland or Liam Kelly alongside John Souttar, Jefte, Connor Barron, Dessers and rising star Ross McCauland.
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