New Rangers head coach Russell Martin was asked about the future of the club captain James Tavernier and the speculation surrounding his captaincy going forward.
Tavernier was officially given the armband seven years ago by previous boss Steven Gerrard and it’s been a rollercoaster since.
The 33-year-old has won every domestic trophy in Scotland and even captained the Light Blues to a Europa League final in 2022, where he finished top goal scorer in the competition with seven goals.
The right-back has been at the club for ten years and is set to have his testimonial this season.
The Bradford-born defender is in the final year of his contract and many expect it to be his final season at Ibrox.
Martin played with Tavernier in 2018 during a six month loan spell and he believes the full-back is still ‘hugely important’ to the team:
“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. But he’s going to be hugely important in the culture. I know what he’s like as a person behind the scenes and he’s fantastic.”
Tavernier has come under some criticism from sections of the Rangers faithful with calls for Nicolas Raskin to become the new skipper.
Martin said he doesn’t see any reason why he would take the captaincy off Tavernier if he’s featuring in the team and playing 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.
“If he’s playing. 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 force someone else [to be captain].”