Almost 40 years after being at the vanguard of one revolution at Ibrox, Graeme Souness is now content to be bear witness to another.
In the past three months, Rangers have moved into new ownership, with their American custodians quickly identifying Russell Martin as the man to instigate a change of fortunes on the park.
While the new manager’s nine recruits to date have been much lower profile than the cast of international A-listers assembled by Souness, the wind of change throughout the club feels reminiscent of that which blew in during the summer of 1986.
When Souness arrived from Sampdoria as player-manager, the club had long become strangers to the winner’s podium. With just one league title in the past 14 years, Martin has also arrived on the scene at a point when losing has become the norm.
While 72-year-old Souness purposefully stops short of predicting that the latest incumbent can follow his lead by winning the Premiership at the first time of asking, his instinct tells him that something special is brewing again at his old stomping ground.
‘I think the new guys (in charge) have started well,’ said Souness of the consortium which includes 49ers Enterprises. ‘The noises that have come out sound very professional and it’s as if they know what they’re doing.
Andrew Cavenagh and Paarag Marathe of the 49ers Enterprises on their unveiling at Ibrox
Rangers manager Martin praises Ibrox new boy Antman after the win over Viktoria Plzen
Former Rangers manager Graeme Souness is thrilled with the positive signs under new regime
‘This is not a case of “Will they get it right?’ This is a case of “When they get it right”.
‘This is not their first dip into soccer. Like in any new business, they will have made some mistakes down in England with Leeds United.
‘I expect them to hit the ground running to a certain point. From what I’m hearing from within the club, and how it comes out publicly, I’m very much encouraged.
‘It would appear, from the outside looking in, it’s settled down. People know what roles they’ve got within the organisation. And I think there’s a clear path that’s being led from the top. I think everyone now knows their job and they can get on with it.’
His heart tells him that Martin’s newly moulded side can come up trumps at the first time of asking. His head tells him that’s still a very tall order,
‘I think it’s a bit like dealing with a politician, asking Rachel Reeves or Keir Starmer when they’re going to get it right,’ he added.
‘In football terms, it’s the same. I think you’re putting unnecessary pressure on yourself.
Antman and Gassama celebrate after combining to put Rangers three up against the Czechs
The US-led revolution at Rangers has been warmly welcomed after years in the doldrums
‘I’m a Rangers supporter and, like every other Rangers supporter, I hope it’s sooner rather than later. I hope it’s this year. The minute you try to attach logic to football, you’ll come unstuck.’
Souness is sure about one thing, though. When asked if he agreed with former director Paul Murray’s view that this felt like the biggest moment for the club since he walked in the door, he fully concurred.
‘Yes, 100 per cent,’ he replied. ‘These people understand soccer. Do they fully understand what Glasgow Rangers is about? I’m sure they have realised that this is a unique football club and a unique football experience. It’s a very special football club. And working in the west of Scotland is quite unique, trust me.’
Martin will feel more comfortable today than he did on Saturday evening. On the back of a feeble display at Motherwell, the 39-year-old publicly flayed the majority of his players for going through the motions throughout an opening-day draw.
Anyone who was in any doubt as to who he felt was responsible was enlightened when the team-sheet for Tuesday’s match with Viktoria Plzen dropped. James Tavernier, Nico Raskin, Danilo and Kieran Dowell were nowhere to be seen.
‘He went early, but that’s his style,’ Souness said. ‘You’d have to say that he’s put his foot down pretty quickly. And I don’t see that as a bad thing.
‘I think you’re putting a marker down that: “I have my standards and you’re going to have to come up to my standards to be a regular member or a starter in this team”.
Martin hails Gassama after the new boy scored his fourth European goal in three games
‘It’s not about him dropping his standards to accommodate players.’
This view is offered with the benefit of considerable experience.
‘I expected the senior players to be the standard-bearers,’ reflected Souness. ‘They were the ones that had to set the standards within the dressing room. And that’s how it should be.
‘I’m a great believer that you don’t have a successful football club unless you have good senior pros. And maybe he’s expecting a bit more from some of the senior pros than he got at the weekend.
‘I’ve been talking about Jock Stein a lot recently. I always felt Jock was harder on Kenny Dalglish and me with the Scottish team.
‘I was frightened of him, although I’m not sure Kenny was! But the message was: “If I can do that to them, you make sure you’re on it”.
‘Some people need a lot more love than others. I was lucky I didn’t need any love.’
Midfielder Lyall Cameron is congratulated after impressing against Plzen at Ibrox in midweek
Souness was present on Tuesday as the tough love imparted by Martin did the trick. A three-goal win against Viktoria Plzen planted one foot in the play-off round. Barring a disaster in the second leg, Rangers will face either Club Brugge or Salzburg for a place in the Champions League proper.
Despite the last trip to the promised land under Giovanni van Bronckhorst being the most chastening experience imaginable, Souness refutes the suggestion that his old club would be better off in the Europa League.
‘I was at the Liverpool game (a 7-1 loss) and it was a sore one,’ he recalled. ‘That night, Rangers just didn’t believe they could get a result against them. They got rolled over far too easily.
‘But you want to be in with the big boys. Every professional football player thinks he’s proper. And, if you think that, then you want to be in against the very best.
‘The Europa League might be more rewarding in terms of results, and you might go further in it. But I would take my chance in the Champions League. I want to play against the best.’
As welcome as it was to see a largely positive sequence of European results continue on Tuesday, the main desire of Rangers supporters is for their side to return to the top of the pile in Scotland. Only then would the second revolution feel complete.
‘Same old story. It’s no good finishing second,’ said Souness.
Souness oversaw a revolution at Rangers alongside chairman David Murray in the late 80s
‘I’m much-travelled, worked in several different countries. And I come back to this. It’s the biggest rivalry in football, that I know of. The next one would be Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, and Manchester United and Liverpool. But this (Glasgow) is above that.
‘The way I see football in this country, and I’ll upset lots of football supporters, there are four institutions that are football clubs in this country: Liverpool, Man United, Rangers and Celtic.
‘And why is it? It’s because, as I see it, the passion that the supporters have for their own football clubs is beyond what I’ve seen anywhere else. It can certainly, if you’re involved as I was, keep you awake at night.’
Graeme Souness was promoting Premier Sports’ coverage of Scottish football including over 80 matches from the Scottish Premiership, Premier Sports Cup, Scottish Cup and KDM Evolution Trophy. Fans can watch an entire season of football for only £99 using promo code PSCUP25.
