Russell Martin insists Rangers will be under no obligation to sell any of their star players during a major summer rebuild.
Martin was appointed as the Ibrox club’s new head coach on Thursday on a three-year deal and will be tasked with revamping the squad and playing style.
With fresh investment of around £20million coming from the club’s new American owners, chief executive Patrick Stewart has stated that ‘a decent amount’ of that will be made available to Martin.
Nico Raskin and Mohamed Diomande have both been strongly linked with moves away from Rangers this summer.
Midfield duo Raskin and Diomande are two of the club’s top assets and have attracted interest from the English Premier League and across Europe.
Any money raised from player sales will be reinvested in the squad, but new boss Martin insists the club are under no pressure whatsoever to sell.
Russell Martin is hoping to retain Rangers’ best players and make them better
Belgian midfielder Nico Raskin has been a shining light and one the Ibrox side hope to keep
Mohamed Diomande is another key man in the Rangers midfield that Martin wants in his ranks
Asked about retaining top talent, he said: ‘We have to try and keep our best players. I think we’re all really aligned with that.
‘So unless things come in that really help the club to build and move forward, I don’t think it’s a necessity to do that [sell] at all. That’s my understanding of it.
‘And we’ve all been really clear on it. So we’ll just have to wait and see. But I’m looking forward to working with those guys.
‘There are a few positions where we’ll need to strengthen fairly quickly and fairly early on [with regards to Champions League qualifiers in July].
‘I’m pretty sure by then we’ll have one or two in. I’m also willing to be surprised and I’m open to being surprised by some of the players we have here.
‘I feel excited about the challenge of Europe, yeah. I think it’s different in terms of obviously having a bit less awareness of the opposition, which is going to take a bit more working.
‘But it’s going to be about us. Whether we’re playing in Europe, in the league, in the cup, whatever it is, it’s going to be about us and trying to be the best we can be.
‘But to experience that, the thought of having European nights here, it’s hugely exciting and appealing. So we have to try and make that happen.’
During his short loan stint at Rangers back in 2018, Martin played alongside club captain James Tavernier.
The new head coach insists he is full of respect for the skipper, who has one year left on his deal.
Despite Tavernier continuing to divide opinion among fans, Martin sees no immediate reason to change the captaincy.
‘First and foremost, I’ll speak to Tav, to explain things and have a discussion about the last two years, his thoughts on the team,’ said the new Ibrox boss.
‘I’ll get his thoughts on what we’re going to bring and how the players will feel about that.
‘I think to play here for as long as he has, to be captain for as long as he has, takes a lot of energy. It’s not easy.
‘I’ve been at a club where sometimes you’re the one that’s been there the longest and you end up getting criticised a lot because you’ve been there the longest. You’re an ageing player and all that stuff.
‘I think he’s been so important for this team and this club on and off the pitch and I’m looking forward to chatting in more detail with him and speaking to him about it all.
‘Then how much he gets used on the pitch will be down to Tav and how he trains and how he plays, the same as every player.
New manager Martin has faith in skipper James Tavernier despite some reservations from fans
‘But he’s going to be hugely important in the culture. I know what he’s like a person behind the scenes and he’s fantastic.
‘He really was when I played with him and hopefully football hasn’t beaten him up too much. It doesn’t seem like it has. He still seems like he plays with a big smile and a lot of enthusiasm.
‘It does carry a big weight to be captain of a club this size. I think he’s done it incredibly well.
‘How much he plays on the pitch, I can’t sit here and tell you he’s going to play 50 games, 20 games, whatever. It will be down to him in the way he performs and the way he buys into it, which I’m pretty sure he will.
‘He’s been the captain for a very long time. I don’t see any reason to change that. And if he’s not playing, it will be someone else.’
