logo
Rangers appoint former Southampton boss Martin as new head coach

Rangers appoint former Southampton boss Martin as new head coach

The Sun05-06-2025
SCOTTISH Premiership club Rangers on Thursday confirmed the appointment of former Southampton boss Russell Martin as their new head coach on a three-year deal.
The 39-year-old guided Southampton to promotion to the Premier League last year but was sacked in December following one win from their first 16 games. The club were subsequently relegated.
Rangers finished last season under the caretaker management of former captain Barry Ferguson, having dismissed Philippe Clement in February.
Ex-Scotland defender Martin, who had a short loan spell as a player at Rangers in 2018, faces the daunting task of challenging Celtic, who have just won a 13th Scottish title in 14 seasons.
'From my time here, I had a taste of how special this club is, the expectation, the passion and the history,' he told the club's website.
'Now, as I return, I'm determined to bring success back, for the supporters, the players, and everyone inside this club.
'There's a lot to be done, but the goal is clear -- win matches, win trophies and give Rangers fans a team that they can be proud of.'
Martin's arrival is the latest in a series of major changes at the club.
An American consortium led by Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises secured a majority shareholding on Friday, while new sporting director Kevin Thelwell officially began work on Monday.
Rangers chief executive Patrick Stewart, who led the recruitment process alongside Thelwell, said: 'Our criteria for our next coach were clear: we wanted a coach who will excel in terms of how we want to play, improve our culture, develop our squad, and ultimately win matches. Russell was the standout candidate.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

China's Pan puzzled after shock 200m free exit at swimming worlds
China's Pan puzzled after shock 200m free exit at swimming worlds

New Straits Times

time28 minutes ago

  • New Straits Times

China's Pan puzzled after shock 200m free exit at swimming worlds

SINGAPORE: China's Pan Zhanle said he was "not sure what happened" after crashing out in the heats of the 200m freestyle at swimming's world championships in Singapore on Monday. Pan, the 100m freestyle Olympic champion and world record holder, finished only 22nd fastest in 1min 47.46sec to miss out on the top 16 who qualify for the semi-finals. "I felt OK yesterday but today's swim felt completely different," said Pan, whose time was way outside his 200m best of 1:44.65. "I'll have to keep working hard and make adjustments, I'm not sure what happened and I'm not happy with this time." Romania's David Popovici, the 200m Olympic champion, cruised through fastest in 1:45.43 ahead of American Luke Hobson (1:45.61) and Britain's Matthew Richards (1:45.66). Pan said it would not knock his confidence for the 100m. "The 200m and 100m are two different events," he said. American legend Katie Ledecky breezed through fastest in the 1500m freestyle, an event where she holds the best 23 times in history. A day after taking bronze behind Canada's Summer McIntosh in the 400m freestyle, Ledecky touched in 15:36.68, more than 10 seconds quicker than Australia's Lani Pallister and Italy's Simona Quadarella who were second and third. Australian backstroke great Kaylee McKeown eased through the 100m heats third fastest in 58.27sec. She said she was determined to enjoy herself after getting "way too caught up" in the occasion at last year's Paris Games. The four-time world champion McKeown swept the women's backstroke events at the last two Olympics and, now 24, vowed to do things on her own terms. "I'm the happiest I've ever been and coming into this championships I just want to enjoy myself," she said. "I got way too caught up in Paris with the pressure and the nerves, and sort of let that overtake the enjoyment that comes with swimming. "This year I'm just taking a step back and doing what I want to do for once and not doing what everyone else wants me to do." Regan Smith was the fastest qualifier in 58.20 to be quickest, followed by American team-mate Katharine Berkoff in 58.55. McKeown said she was mindful of her physical condition after injuring a shoulder before a recent training camp as she looks towards competing at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. "I have a few little injuries as well so I've just got to really manage myself so I can make it to LA," she said. France's Yohann Ndoye-Brouard was fastest in the men's 100m backstroke in 52.30, followed by Russian Kliment Kolesnikov (52.27) and Hungary's Hubert Kos (52.60). Ireland's Mona McSharry topped the timesheets in the women's 100m breaststroke in 1:05.99, just 0.02 ahead of Germany's Anna Elendt with Japan's Satomi Suzuki a further 0.12 back. - AFP

Urgent need for 'global approach' on AI regulation: UN tech chief
Urgent need for 'global approach' on AI regulation: UN tech chief

The Star

timean hour ago

  • The Star

Urgent need for 'global approach' on AI regulation: UN tech chief

GENEVA: The world urgently needs to find a global approach on regulating artificial intelligence, the United Nations' top tech chief said this week, warning that fragmentation could deepen risks and inequalities. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, head of the UN's International Telecommunications Union (ITU) agency, told AFP she hoped that AI "can actually benefit humanity". But as concerns mount over the risks posed by the fast-moving technology – including fears of mass job losses, the spread of deepfakes and disinformation, and society's fabric fraying – she insisted that regulation was key. "There's an urgency to try to get... the right framework in place," she said, stressing the need for "a global approach". Her comments came after US President Donald Trump this week unveiled an aggressive, low-regulation strategy aimed at ensuring the United States stays ahead of China on AI. Among more than 90 proposals, Trump's plan calls for sweeping deregulation, with the administration promising to "remove red tape and onerous regulation" that could hinder private sector AI development. Asked if she had concerns about an approach that urges less, not more, regulation of AI technologies, Bogdan-Martin refrained from commenting, saying she was "still trying to digest" the US plan. 'Critical' "I think there are different approaches," she said. "We have the EU approach. We have the Chinese approach. Now we're seeing the US approach. I think what's needed is for those approaches to dialogue," she said. At the same time, she highlighted that "85 percent of countries don't yet have AI policies or strategies". A consistent theme among those strategies that do exist is the focus on innovation, capacity building and infrastructure investments, Bogdan-Martin said. "But where I think the debate still needs to happen at a global level is trying to figure out how much regulation, how little regulation, is needed," she said. Bogdan-Martin, who grew up in New Jersey and has spent most of her more than three-decade career at the ITU, insisted the Geneva-based telecoms agency that sets standards for new technologies was well-placed to help facilitate much-needed dialogue on the issue. "The need for a global approach I think is critical," she said, cautioning that "fragmented approaches will not help serve and reach all". As countries and companies sprint to cement their dominance in the booming sector, there are concerns that precautions could be thrown to the wind – and that those who lose the race or do not have the capacity to participate will be left behind. 'Huge gap' The ITU chief hailed "mind-blowing" advances within artificial intelligence, with the potential to improve everything from education to agriculture to health care – but insisted the benefits must be shared. Without a concerted effort, there is a risk that AI will end up standing for "advancing inequalities", she warned, cautioning against deepening an already dire digital divide worldwide. "We have 2.6 billion people that have no access to the internet, which means they have no access to artificial intelligence", Bogdan-Martin pointed out. "We have to tackle those divides if we're actually going to have something that is beneficial to all of humanity." Bogdan-Martin, the first woman to serve as ITU secretary-general in the organisation's nearly 160-year history, also stressed the need to get more women into the digital space. "We have a huge gap," she said. "We definitely don't have enough women... in artificial intelligence." The 58-year-old mother of four said it was "a big honour" to be the first woman in her position, to be "breaking the glass ceiling (and) paving the path for future generations". But she acknowledged there was a lot of pressure, "not just to achieve, but to almost overachieve". Bogdan-Martin, who is being backed by the Trump administration to stand for re-election when her four-year mandate ends next year, said she was eager to stay on for a second term. "There is a lot to do." – AFP

Soccer-Newcastle players getting on with it amid Isak exit talk, says Howe
Soccer-Newcastle players getting on with it amid Isak exit talk, says Howe

The Star

timean hour ago

  • The Star

Soccer-Newcastle players getting on with it amid Isak exit talk, says Howe

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Everton - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - May 25, 2025 Newcastle United's Alexander Isak reacts after missing a chance to score Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith/File Photo SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Newcastle United's players are professionals who will not let ongoing speculation linking striker Alexander Isak with a move away from St. James' Park affect their focus as they prepare for the Premier League season, manager Eddie Howe said. Isak, who bagged 23 league goals last season, only behind Liverpool talisman and Golden Boot winner Mohamed Salah (29), was left out of Newcastle's squad for their pre-season tour of Asia. The 25-year-old, capped 52 times for Sweden, joined Newcastle from Real Sociedad in 2022 and has since netted 62 times in 109 appearances across all competitions. After Newcastle's 3-2 defeat by Arsenal in Singapore on Sunday, Howe told reporters the tour was "business as usual" for the players. "You don't get a chance when you come on to these tours to think of anything other than training, the next game, the level is so high that even in these games we have to be very well prepared," he added. "We have to try and be at our best. So naturally, I think we're going to miss a player of Alex's quality and the group are going to feel that. There's no denying that. "And I can't sit here and claim that they (the players) won't. But they're a very professional group of players and they're doing brilliantly as far as I can see in terms of managing the situation." Newcastle, who qualified for Champions League football after finishing fifth in the Premier League last season, are next in action against a K-League XI in South Korea on Wednesday. (Reporting by Lion Schellerer in Singapore, writing by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Saad Sayeed)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store