‘My concern’ – Russell Martin sent big Celtic warning as Rangers move nears

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The next Rangers manager saga is one that Celtic fans will be keeping a close eye on.

Ever since Rangers sacked Philippe Clement, the hunt for a new Ibrox boss has been on as Celtic swept up the league title.

With the new season a matter of weeks away, Rangers are still managerless as Celtic look to make transfer moves in the summer market.

However, with Davide Ancelotti and Russell Martin heavily linked to the Rangers job, BBC man Rory Loy has sent the two candidates a warning about the Hoops and Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.

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Rory Loy is worried about Rangers trying to out-football Celtic and Brendan Rodgers’

Celtic’s attacking style of play is based around possession and slick football. Rodgers has destroyed teams in Scotland, including Rangers, with this.

And Loy believes that if either Ancelotti or Martin tries to go toe-to-toe with Celtic then they will continue to get battered.

Loy told The Scottish Football Podcast [6m 53], “My concern is, if I was a Rangers fan, would be that these managers want to come in and out-football Brendan Rodgers and Celtic.

“Ange Postecoglou did do it, but he’s the exception to the rule in my opinion. So whoever comes in is going to have to come in and win games of football.

“It takes a lot of work and time and effort. Six weeks of preseason go into building what we want to play and whoever comes in is going to have to do that in six weeks or less and try and come in and play a style of football.”

Loy says Rangers are ‘nowhere near’ competing with Celtic on the pitch

Celtic already have an established first-team squad who are used to winning silverware and the demands of the supporters.

And Loy believes that the pressure could be on whoever becomes the new Rangers boss if they don’t hit the ground running.

Loy continued, “In my opinion, Russell Martin and [Davide] Ancelotti will want to play the ball on the ground and pop it around. At this moment in time, Rangers are nowhere near at the stage of competing against Celtic in that department.

“So it’s going to be interesting to see how they start, how long the fans stick with them if they do do that.

“Because I don’t see one of these guys coming in and being able to take the bull by the horns and win game after game after game.”

Rodgers has plenty of cash to inject into his team this summer and regardless of what Rangers do under the 49ers Enterprises, he will be determined to ensure Celtic will still be the dominant force come the end of next season.

With a busy summer ahead for both Glasgow clubs, Celtic are in a good place to keep Rangers firmly in second place.