A New Era for Rangers Under American Ownership
Graeme Souness, the former manager of Rangers, has expressed his admiration for the impact made by the American investors who have taken over the club. The new ownership, led by a consortium including 49ers Enterprises, has quickly identified Russell Martin as the man to lead the club back to success on the pitch.
This transition marks a significant shift for Rangers, much like the one that occurred almost 40 years ago when Souness first arrived at Ibrox. At that time, the club was struggling and had not won a league title in 14 years. Similarly, Martin has taken charge at a time when losing has become the norm for the team.
Despite Souness’ reluctance to predict whether Martin will replicate his own achievements by winning the Premiership in his first season, he believes there is something special happening at the club again. He noted that the new owners have started well and are showing signs of professionalism and understanding of the football world.
Souness pointed out that while the new owners may have made some mistakes in other ventures, such as with Leeds United, they are likely to learn from these experiences. He emphasized that the club is now more settled, with clear roles and a path forward from the top.
While Souness remains hopeful that Martin can achieve success, he also acknowledges that it is a tall order. He compared the pressure on Martin to that faced by politicians, suggesting that it is unnecessary to set expectations too high.
Souness fully agrees with former director Paul Murray’s view that this is the biggest moment for the club since he took charge. He believes the new owners understand the unique nature of Glasgow Rangers and the importance of the club in Scottish football.
Martin has shown a strong approach to managing the team, making tough decisions to raise the standards within the squad. This includes benching key players after a poor performance against Motherwell, which he publicly criticized.
Souness supports Martin’s decision to set high standards, believing that senior players should lead by example. He reflected on his own experiences with Jock Stein, who was known for being strict with players but ultimately helped build a successful team.
The recent victory against Viktoria Plzen has put Rangers in a strong position to progress in European competition. Despite the challenges faced in previous seasons, Souness believes that competing in the Champions League is essential for the club.
For Rangers supporters, the ultimate goal is to return to the top of Scottish football. Souness emphasized that finishing second is not enough, highlighting the intense rivalry between Rangers and Celtic.
He also mentioned that there are four major football institutions in the UK: Liverpool, Manchester United, Rangers, and Celtic. This reflects the deep passion and support that fans have for their clubs.
As part of his promotion for Premier Sports’ coverage of Scottish football, Souness highlighted the extensive match schedule available to fans. With over 80 matches from the Scottish Premiership, Premier Sports Cup, Scottish Cup, and KDM Evolution Trophy, fans can enjoy an entire season of football for just £99 using the promo code PSCUP25.