A CLASSY

Michael: Gers are appointing a real leader in Russel... even in Norwich's bomb squad he refused to blow his fuse and stayed cool

- BY SCOTT MCDERMOTT

At a separate table was their club captain Russell Martin.

NORWICH CITY'S first-team players sat together having dinner at the pre-season training camp in Germany.

Banished to the reserves after nine years of service to the Canaries, his team-mates wondered how the Scotland defender would react.

Given how he'd been treated by the hierarchy at that point, Martin would have been forgiven for throwing his toys out of the pram.

Inside he must have felt disrespected and harshly treated.

But Michael McGovern, who was the Carrow Road keeper, says Martin's conduct on that summer trip didn't just tell you about him as a professional.

He says it told him everything about Martin's character as a man.

And the former Northern Ireland No.1 has never forgotten it.

McGovern believes the episode towards the end of Martin's career at Norwich is a clear indicator of his own standards.

And he's convinced that bodes well for Rangers and their players should Martin become gaffer in the next few days.

The 39-year-old is on the verge of being named as Philippe Clement's successor.

And McGovern, who spent two years with Martin in Norfolk, is adamant it would be a good appointment by Rangers' new American owners plus sporting director Kevin Thelwell.

The former Falkirk and Hamilton No.1 was hugely impressed by Martin as a player before watching his managerial career closely.