Moonbeams Murray coming out of his cave makes the sober approach of Rangers' new regime all the more welcome, writes GARY KEOWN
No wild promises, talk of 'low-ego decision-making', a clear statement that this is about 'sustained winning and winning sustainably' rather than chucking money around willy-nilly, a determination to create a meritocracy in which a team of the best-available people will be 'empowered' to make decisions and then held accountable.
That was the sales pitch chairman Andrew Cavenagh and vice-chair Paraag Marathe made to shareholders at the Rangers EGM as their consortium's £20million investment was rubberstamped last Monday. And you know what? From initial reactions, it feels like this was exactly the kind of sensible, bluster-free presentation that fans of the Ibrox club wanted to hear after a decade and more of disaster and chaos.
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an hour ago
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In an exclusive interview, one of Steven Gerrard's title-winning heroes lifts the lid on what they can expect from the new boss Jermain Defoe has seen what Rangers can be like when a manager gets it right at Ibrox. Steven Gerrard was that guy in 2021 when he delivered their 55th title and stopped Celtic getting 10-in-a-row. Despite it being a Covid-hit campaign, Defoe will never forget what it meant to Rangers supporters. He's played for West Ham United, Spurs and England in his career - but says NOTHING topped that league triumph in Govan. What Gerrard managed to create was special four years ago. And Defoe is now praying that new Gers gaffer Russell Martin can get to experience the same. The former Ibrox striker still keeps in touch with everything that's going on at Rangers. On Saturday night, he shared a TV studio with Conor Coady - one of Martins' summer transfer targets - and urged him to get himself to Glasgow. He's also familiar with the boss, having spent time with him at Southampton's training ground last season as part of his own coaching journey. Defoe would love nothing better than to see his old club be Scotland's top team again. And he's convinced that with Martin at the helm - and Coady at the heart of their defence - that Rangers can emulate Gerrard's team and become champions again. In an exclusive interview with Record Sport, the 42-year-old said: 'Russell is very good. He invited me to Southampton to watch training last year so I got to spend a bit of time with him. 'I knew how his teams played and I'd heard a lot about how he worked. I went in there and, wow. It was proper. You know what I liked about him as well? He's a really good guy so he can connect to players. 'He's an amazing coach and he's already played for Rangers so he understands it. The Rangers fans have something special to look forward to. 'His methodology is to play football in the right way and win. The fans will see a playing style straight away that they might not have seen before. 'Under Stevie and Mick Beale, we had a good way of playing. We dominated most games and won the league in 2021. 'I just really hope that this man can bring those good times back to Rangers. It's going to take time but the Rangers fans know that. 'When someone gets it right at Rangers, like Stevie did four years ago, it's a special place. At some stage, I'm going to message Russell. I want to come up, be around it and watch a bit of training. 'Because it's a special club. That time in my life, I loved. All the stuff I achieved before that - playing for England at a World Cup or in the Premier League - my time at Rangers is the time I remember. 'Those celebrations when we won the title and seeing what we gave to those people, it was the best thing. Covid was the only negative but we could still hear the fans outside the stadium when we won that league. 'The noise and the support we had was incredible. I told Conor that on Saturday - I've never seen support like that before. 'In 30 years time, people will remember us as the team who won 55. They can never take that away from us. I just want Conor to experience that now.' Record Sport revealed almost a month ago that Martin wanted to make Coady one of his key summer signings at Ibrox. The 32-year-old defender, who has 10 England caps, would add Premier League experience to Rangers' backline. Defoe was with him at the weekend, covering the Under-21 Euro Championship Final, and was immediately in his ear about a possible move to Glasgow. And he's convinced it would be a coup for Martin to get him on board. Defoe said: 'With Connor Goldson not at Rangers anymore and Leon Balogun leaving, it just makes sense to sign Conor. 'He's a proper, natural leader. I haven't played with Conor but I've always known about his qualities. I've heard a lot about how good he is in the changing room. 'For Rangers, you need those sort of characters at the club. I loved all the clubs I played for in England and I knew Rangers were big. 'But when you actually go, you fully appreciate it. I spoke to Graeme Souness when I was linked with Rangers. He's an iconic figure in football and he told me how much he loved that club. 'That's why, when I had the chance to go, it was one of the best things I ever did. I said to Conor, I hope to God you get the chance to experience what I did up there. 'He loves football and that's why I said he has to go there. It's the people, the club, what it means to everyone. 'I told him that if he can go there, make a difference, and win? Honestly, it's incredible. That's why they need to get business done now, get Conor Coady in, a guy who's so experienced in England. 'You hear how he speaks on TV, he knows the game and he's a leader. I don't want any other club to get him. Rangers can't miss out on signings like this. 'If we're looking to go in the right direction as a football club, take this opportunity. Because it's a guy who I know would love to be at Rangers. 'When you get players into the building who appreciate being there - even though he's been at top clubs and with England - it's priceless.' Defoe feels proud of the fact he'll always be remembered as a title winner at Rangers, despite only having 18 months at the club after joining from Bournemouth. He said: 'When I was linked with Rangers, I didn't think of it as going to play in Scotland. I just thought, what an opportunity to play at a massive club where you have to win. 'Legends have graced that club and loved it so much they still speak about it now. I still speak to Gazza about it, Ally McCoist and Souness. 'There are just certain places where you think the supporters are special and Rangers is one of them. I had played for Spurs and West Ham, clubs like that. But when I went to Rangers, I thought - this is on another level. 'I thought, if I can win here and get this title they've been craving - people will talk about it for years.'
