Lafferty is in no doubt his old Norwich teammate can still have a top career in management
Russell Martin was axed by Rangers
Kyle Lafferty is convinced that Russell Martin WILL go on to become a top boss – despite his ropey Rangers reign.
But the Northern Irishman says his pal was let down by players who couldn’t handle the pressure at Ibrox.
Lafferty was thrilled when his old Norwich team-mate got the gig to replace Philippe Clement at his boyhood club.
He accepts that Martin’s results as Rangers manager were nowhere near good enough – but is adamant he’ll be a successful coach elsewhere.
Lafferty believes some of Martin’s players FROZE in Glasgow. But he cited former Ibrox flop Umar Sadiq as an example of good players not being able to cut it at the Old Firm.
Lafferty told Record Sport: “When he got the Rangers job, I was delighted for Russell. It got me excited.
“But I think for some of the players he’s signed, they maybe under-estimated how big Rangers is and how tough Scottish football is.
“Some of them were brilliant at previous clubs. But everyone knows at the Old Firm, before you’ve kicked a ball expectations are massive.
“So if you don’t get off to a good start, it becomes really hard. I bet if some of these players – who haven’t done it at Rangers – move on in the summer, they’ll go to other clubs and hit the ground running.
“It happens so many times. The one that stands out for me in my time at the club is Sadiq.
Rangers flop Umar Sadiq(Image: SNS Group)
“He didn’t do it at Rangers. But his transfer fees in the last couple of years are about £50 million.
“It’s not just about ability at Rangers. You need to be made of stone to take all the abuse.
“They’ve come to a big club like Rangers and some of them have frozen under the expectation.
“With the manager under the spotlight, any bad touch or misplaced pass, you’ll get pulled up on.
“It’s been a poisonous place in the last few weeks. Results haven’t been good enough but I do feel bad for Russ.
“He’s a human being at the end of the day. He came in to do a job and it hasn’t worked out.
“The fans pay their money so they are entitled to their opinion. But it’s been tough to watch, especially when it’s your mate.
“I was dying for him to do well.
“There was no going back because the fans had made their mind up.
“Some of them didn’t want him in the first place so it was tough from day one.
“I’m pretty sure he’ll get a job elsewhere and he’ll thrive in it. People will realise he’s a good manager.
“This was just a case of maybe being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”