Rangers talk to Russell Martin alternatives – Scottish gossip

Rangers’ decision-makers are already speaking to alternatives to Russell Martin – despite the board throwing their faith behind the under-fire head coach. (Record), external

Swindon Town boss Ian Holloway pushes back at criticism of Martin’s methods after Rangers’ players took part in hiking and wild swimming, with Holloway saying: “Why not shake things up and try something different?” (Sun), external

Nicolas Raskin’s best friend from his homeland, Walid Cheref, who now plays for lower league club Crisnee, says he knows there is a lot of interest from other clubs in the Belgium midfielder who has fallen out of favour with Rangers head coach Martin. (National – subscription required), external

Barry Ferguson says he would have signed striker Lawrence Shankland from Hearts, midfielder Josh Mulligan, then of Dundee and now of Hibernian, and Vaclav Cerny, who was on loan to Rangers from Wolfsburg, had he been given the Ibrox head coach job permanently this summer. (Go Radio via Glasgow Times, external)

Former Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson has confirmed he has officially left the Ibrox club’s academy after being drafted back into the club’s youth set-up earlier this year. (Herald – subscription required), external