THE 56ERS V THE 49ERS

Martin's a slow burner when fans wanted an inferno .. so he's facing pressure from off to halt Celtic's race to milestone title

- ➤HUGH KEEVINS

WHEN Russell Martin was MK Dons manager, the story goes his team once scored a goal which came after 56 passes in the build-up.

Now that's what you call possession football.

Rangers fans will have time to leave their seats, buy a pie, and sit back down again before the creation of a goal leads to its execution.

Whether Martin's trademark style philosophy, call it what you like is appealing to those fans in the long run is, of course, now a topic for legitimate debate following his appointment at Ibrox on Thursday.

And 56 passes to create a goal is, undeniably, a long run.

But number 56 is also at the core of the most pressing concern for Russell and Gers fans.

Brendan Rodgers' Celtic side won their 55th league title in the season just ended, equalling Rangers previously held record on that front.

The Old Firm side who wins the Premiership in the season to come will create a bragging rights' coup unparalleled in the history of a rivalry that goes back to the 19th century.

It puts inordinate pressure on Martin and Rodgers.

Brendan is, until such time as we receive evidence to the contrary, approaching his final season in charge of Celtic.

His entry into the club's folklore will be assured if his swansong is to become the first ever Celtic manager to win three Trebles.

A history-making distinction that was denied the Irishman last month after his team's grotesquely bad performance against Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup Final but still it remains open to him before, or if, he goes elsewhere.