Following the takeover by a US-based consortium in the summer – led by now-chairman Andrew Cavanagh – Rangers decided Martin was the man to lead the team forward on a three-year-deal.
The former Rangers and Scotland defender got Southampton promoted to the Premier League, but was sacked after 13 defeats in their opening 16 Premier League matches the following campaign.
The reception from supporters to Martin’s appointment was frosty at best and he failed to win them over at any stage of his tortured 123-day tenure.
The 39-year-old’s final match was a 1-1 draw at Falkirk before the international break, following which he was given a police escort away from the stadium after fans tried to stop the team bus leaving.
It took Rangers until late September to win in the league and the club were humiliated 9-1 on aggregate by Club Brugge in the Champions League play-offs.
Martin left with the club 11 points behind leaders Hearts and nine behind Celtic, having earned just five victories in all competitions.
Rangers’ search for a replacement quickly alighted upon Gerrard, who was of interest to club’s American owners in the summer, before a number of issues resulted in him withdrawing from the running.
In a podcast recorded prior to Martin’s sacking but released on Wednesday – Gerrard told former England team-mate Rio Ferdinand that he was keen to return to management.
In that interview, Gerrard also said he wanted “to be at a team that’s going to compete to win because I think that suits me better”.
But it has now become apparent that team will not be Rangers.
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