Alex McLeish can see why fans aren’t happy and he had similar advice for Brendan Rodgers on Celtic’s style
17:29, 09 Sep 2025Updated 19:37, 09 Sep 2025
Russell Martin
Alex McLeish has told Rangers that it’s too early to think about sacking Russell Martin, but he needs to ditch his boring style to get punters back onside.
Martin is under pressure after failing to win any of his four league matches in charge of Gers, while a humiliating 9-1 aggregate defeat to Club Brugge in the Champions League playoff round had a number of punters calling for his head.
The goalless draw with Celtic before the international break offered a touch of respite, but failure to beat Hearts at Ibrox this weekend will see the same complaints intensify.
McLeish can see that Martin has a clear plan, but isn’t sure whether he has the players to execute it, and it’s leading to boring football which won’t fly with fans if it’s not getting results. “It’s very early days to consider sacking the guy,” he told PLZ.
“He’s got a plan and I hope he’s got the players that are able to fulfil that plan, because if you don’t have the quality of player to do that, then that’s where the problem will come in for him.
“It’s really evident if you’re going to play the passing game from the back and get to the centre circle then get forced back the way, it really becomes quite intense and boring at times.”
Alex McLeish
Celtic managed the impressive feat of knocking Rangers off the back pages by fumbling the transfer window and then stoking supports’ seethe with a Saturday night statement that seemed to blame everyone but themselves.
Questions over Brendan Rodgers’ future have been ramped up with the Hoops boss currently set to depart Parkhead at the end of this season.
And McLeish reckons he could do with a more attacking approach too,
He added: “It probably needs more of an attacking strategy from both managers. Brendan knows what Celtic are all about and there’s even rumours coming from Celtic that Brendan is ready to go.”
Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond.
You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We’re also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport’s newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.