A key figure behind 49ers Enterprises acquisition has exploded on Martin
Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh (left) and vice chairman Paraag Marathe(Image: PA)
One of the key players behind the Rangers takeover is calling on the club to sack under-pressure manager Russell Martin.
And the Dubai-based figure wants the Light Blues to ‘move heaven and earth’ to try and bring Jose Mourinho to Ibrox.
Martin is already facing calls from supporters to get the boot after just 10 games in the dugout, of which he has won just three.
Rangers have drawn all three of their opening Premiership matches and Wednesday’s 6-0 hammering against Club Brugge (and 9-1 over two legs) in the Champions League play-off has pushed disgruntled punters to breaking point.
Portuguese managerial great Mourinho is out of work after getting the sack at Fenerbahce for failing to guide the Turkish giants into Europe’s premier competition.
And Scottish property and finance expert Andy Mason – who played a pivotal role in bringing Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises to the table ahead of their takeover – believes an audacious swoop for ‘The Special One’ will improve Rangers’ fortunes drastically.
Speaking to Mail on Sport, he said: “Like every other Rangers fan, I was horrified by what I watched on Wednesday night against Brugge. I struggle to really recall anything that could top that. Just in terms of the manner of the performance, that’s probably as bad as I’ve seen us.
“Given the level of anger among supporters, it’s pretty clear already that Russell Martin isn’t the right man to take this forward.
“That will only escalate further if they lose to Celtic. The Americans will be there on Sunday. They will feel it themselves in terms of the atmosphere. It’s toxic.
“Martin’s system just doesn’t work in Glasgow. The pressure is too intense. You can’t experiment or have project managers. You need to win games and compete in Europe.
Russell Martin is feeling the Rangers support fury
‘The Americans need to show strong leadership and just admit that they have probably made a mistake in hiring him. There needs to be a change.
“In a way, this isn’t really about Russell Martin any more. It’s about Rangers as a club and doing what’s best.
“Like every other supporter out there, I want the club to move forward and thrive under the new ownership. But I just don’t see how that happens under Russell Martin.
Mason is in no doubt about what Mourinho – who lost out to Rangers as manager of Fenerbahce in the Europa League last season – would bring to the Govan club, adding: “The fact that Jose Mourinho is now available is bound to be hugely appealing to supporters.
“If Rangers could get that done, that would be one hell of an appointment.
“He would be absolutely box-office and would unite the entire fanbase pretty much instantly.
“He would also instil some backbone and some character in the squad, which is something that’s sorely lacking at the moment.
“I believe he would also help come of the current players like Oliver Antman, Thelo Aasgaard and Djeidi Gassama.
Former Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho(Image: PA)
“He would coach them and make something of them. His experience would help improve the value of those assets, whereas sticking with Martin would divest it.
“Mourinho is a legendary figure in the game, one of the best managers we’ve seen over the past 25 years or so.
“He would command instant respect and the players would want to play for him.
“I think the club should move heaven and earth to make it happen while he’s available.”