Reuniting with Martin was 'main pull' for Rothwell

Joe Rothwell says nan chance to reunite pinch Russell Martin was a cardinal facet successful his determination to subordinate Rangers.

The 30-year-old midfielder has signed a three-year deal astatine Ibrox aft leaving Bournemouth.

He will nexus up erstwhile again pinch caller Rangers head Martin, who he played nether arsenic portion of nan Southampton broadside who achieved promotion to nan English Premier League successful 2024.

Rothwell achieved akin occurrence while connected indebtedness astatine Leeds United past season, and he explained having turned down Rangers erstwhile to subordinate Bournemouth successful 2022, he was not going to walk up nan opportunity again.

"Just earlier I signed for Bournemouth [from Blackburn Rovers], it was benignant of a toss-up betwixt nan two," Rothwell said.

"Obviously, I decided to spell to Bournemouth astatine nan time, but I'm thankful that nan connection came backmost astir this clip and I jumped consecutive astatine it."

Rothwell was alert of liking from Ibrox earlier successful nan summer, but says Martin's man-management skills and tactical nous were what persuaded him to caput northbound of nan border.

"Yeah, evidently location was a small spot of liking location earlier nan head sewage nan job, but arsenic soon arsenic I recovered retired that he was getting it, he gave maine a telephone telephone and I was like, yeah, I'll beryllium consecutive there," Rothwell added.

"He conscionable sees nan crippled really I would for illustration to if I was a manager, really I would for illustration to play nan game.

"He's a possession-based manager. From nan outside, it looks for illustration he's conscionable playing pointless passes. But erstwhile you're really wrong it, you understand each walk that you make is key.

"So, yeah, that was nan main pull. But I've said it before, it's much what he is arsenic a guy, that you want to travel activity for him, not conscionable nan worldly he does connected nan pitch."

Rothwell spent his full younker profession astatine Manchester United, but near successful 2016 aft failing to break into nan first team.

And he says that setback pushed him to return to a "huge club".

"Leaving was ne'er easy," he said of his Old Trafford exit. "I was location for 15-odd years, truthful having to time off was tough, but I knew it was nan correct point to do for my ain career.

"A large thrust for maine was to get backmost location and evidently effort and play for a monolithic nine again. And I consciousness for illustration this is simply a nine that I can. They are a immense club."

Rothwell besides says nan imagination outlined by Martin and nan club's caller American owners convinced him that Ibrox was nan correct action astatine this shape of his career.

"They said to maine astir wherever they spot nan nine going and what they want to execute and I wanted to beryllium a portion of that," Rothwell said.

"There was liking from elsewhere, but arsenic soon arsenic I knew that Rangers had travel calling, it was wanting to spell backmost to that big-club mentality.

"They fresh nan measure for maine and evidently nan head coming successful and getting nan job, it was a no-brainer for me."