RUSS-HOUR TRAFFIC IS BUILDING ON PAISLEY ROAD WEST

But here's Martin's journey so far...

- By Scott McDermott and Andy Newport

RUSSELL MARTIN will get a crack at his fourth managerial gig if he's unveiled as Rangers’ new boss.

Irrespective of what he achieved at MK Dons, Swansea City and Southampton, the Ibrox job would be his biggest challenge yet.

The 39-year-old is on the verge of being appointed as Philippe Clement's replacement and the man to lead a new era at the club following their £100million American takeover.

But what type of manager will Rangers be getting? How astute is his recruitment of players?

And how does he deal with the heat in press conferences when things aren't going well?

Martin's career as a coach had been on an upward trajectory - from Milton Keynes to Swansea to Saints - until he suffered his first major setback when he was sacked in December 2024 with his side heading for relegation from the Premier League.

Here, Express Sport looks back at his stints with all three clubs ahead of his anticipated arrival at Ibrox.

MK DONS (2019-21)

at Stadium MK coincided with the Covid pandemic.

With lockdown restrictions leaving grounds across the country empty, he was able to get down to work without having to worry about the sounds of jittery supporters gasping as his centre-backs passed the ball across their six-yard box.

That had its benefits when things were going well. But there were moments when the eerie backdrop left no doubt about how his tactics were viewed by the man who hired him.

"I remember one game during Covid where you could hear the chairman groaning, 'Oh, God, this is boring'," said Toby Lock, Dons reporter for the local MK Citizen newspaper.

"Pete gave him that freedom to just go and play the style he wanted. When it worked, it was devastating. We'd blow teams away.

"But there were times when all the passing would take you nowhere.