Rangers on verge of appointing Russell Martin as new manager

A reluctance to adapt is an accusation Postecoglou and Martin both share. But the latter’s former Norwich City team-mate, Angus Gunn, would dispute that.

Gunn came up against Martin’s Southampton team in the English Championship en route to, what turned into, their unsuccessful return to the Premier League.

“They were a tough team,” the Scotland goalkeeper said. “We had a couple of good games against them. One was 4-4, one was 1-1, so quite contrasting.

“When we first played them they were quite open. Then when we played them again, they were a little bit pragmatic and I think that shows a coach that can adapt and change the way his team plays.

“Watching his teams over the few years that he was there, I thought he did that even though some people probably said that he was reluctant to change a lot.

“I thought he did that quite well, especially in the Championship.”

The narrative around the former Scotland defender, particularly with Southampton in the Premier League, was that he was too stubborn and needed to adapt.

The former Rangers defender’s response was firm.

“There is a difference between being stubborn and having conviction,” he told BBC Sport. “If you really believe in something as a coach, manager, leader, then the logic for me is that you stick with it and try to be better at it.”

It suggests the principles of Martin’s approach won’t deviate if he gets the Ibrox job.