Leicester City set to appoint Russell Martin after Rangers sacking as seventh manager in three years

Leicester City are closing in on Russell Martin as their next manager, with the 40-year-old set to become their seventh boss in three years following their catastrophic fall to League One.

The former Southampton manager, who was sacked by Rangers after just 17 games in October, is expected to take charge of a club that has plummeted from Premier League champions to English football's third tier in less than a decade.

From miracle to meltdown: Leicester's stunning collapse

Leicester's descent represents one of football's most spectacular falls from grace. Just eight years after their 5000-1 Premier League title triumph in 2016, the Foxes find themselves in League One following back-to-back relegations.

The club's institutional breakdown accelerated after Brendan Rodgers departed in April 2023. Since then, they've churned through six managers while suffering relegation from the Premier League in 2023 and dropping into League One this season.

Financial breaches compound the crisis

Leicester's problems extend beyond the dugout. The club were docked six points for breaching English Football League financial rules, highlighting deeper structural issues that have undermined their competitiveness.

Under interim boss Gary Rowett, who replaced the sacked Marti Cifuentes in January after just six months, Leicester couldn't arrest their slide and tumbled into the third tier for the first time since 2009.

Why Martin's Rangers disaster makes this appointment baffling

Martin's credentials make for uncomfortable reading. His Rangers tenure lasted just 17 games before he was dismissed with the Glasgow giants languishing in eighth place in the Scottish Premiership.

The former Scotland defender's rapid failure at Ibrox raises serious questions about Leicester's recruitment process. A manager who couldn't handle the pressure at Rangers now faces the monumental task of rebuilding a broken institution.

Leicester's desperation evident in pursuit

Leicester's interest in Martin isn't new. They wanted him last summer before he chose Rangers, ultimately appointing Cifuentes instead. That they've returned for a manager who has since failed spectacularly suggests a club running out of options.

Martin does bring Championship experience, having led Southampton to Premier League promotion via the play-offs in 2023-24. He's also managed MK Dons and Swansea, but nothing in his recent record suggests he can arrest Leicester's freefall.

What this managerial chaos means for Leicester's future odds

Leicester's managerial merry-go-round has transformed them from promotion favourites to unpredictable betting propositions. Seven managers in three years signals institutional instability that typically correlates with poor on-field performance.

The revolving door policy suggests deeper problems that new managers cannot fix. Each appointment brings renewed optimism from bookmakers, but the pattern is clear: quick dismissals, disrupted squads, and continued decline.

League One promotion no guarantee

Despite their pedigree, Leicester face a tough battle to escape League One. The third tier is littered with former Premier League clubs like Reading and Bolton Wanderers, and their financial constraints following the points deduction limit their ability to strengthen significantly.

Martin's appointment, if confirmed, represents another roll of the dice rather than a strategic rebuild. For bettors, Leicester remain a volatile proposition until they address the fundamental issues destroying the club from within.

What happens next

A final decision on Martin's appointment was expected this weekend, with the former defender having "a number of options" according to reports. If confirmed, he'll inherit a squad demoralised by successive relegations and a club infrastructure in disarray.

The immediate challenge will be preparing for a League One campaign where Leicester, despite their fall, will face intense pressure to secure immediate promotion. Whether Martin can succeed where six predecessors have failed remains highly doubtful given both his recent record and the scale of Leicester's institutional problems.