The 2-0 loss to Hearts on Saturday meant that Rangers are now 11 points behind their arch-rivals and league leaders Celtic after five rounds of matches. The nightmare start to the new season has left Gers fans furious, with boos raining down from the stands and many demanding the immediate sacking of the English coach.
A fan, with an X handle RFC1872, wrote: “On Russell Martin. his constant public comments about player “anxiety” are just tired excuses for a team that looks lost. It’s not about the players being scared; it’s about the manager being out of his depth. A new appointment is needed to save this season.”
Bull Lasso wrote: “Get Russell Martin gone come Monday. Get one of them in by Friday. Save the season @RangersFC.”
Michael demanded the sacking of Martin, writing: “Repost this if you agree that @RangersFC should sack Russell Martin.”
Paul Montgomery jokingly posted: “Rangers fans going mad understandably but I honestly do think if he’s given time Russell Martin will keep them up.”
An Ally McCoist parody account shared: “Listen, Russell, son… I’ve seen some bad starts in my time, but you’ve managed to take the biscuit, the tray, and the whole tea set with this one. Tenth place? At Rangers? That’s not a league position, that’s a bus route.”
After the Hearts defeat, the Rangers boss was asked if he was considering stepping down, to which he replied: “No. I don’t think many of them [the fans] wanted me here in the first place. They’re entitled to their opinion, so I can’t come out here and criticise that. The fans are always entitled to their opinion.”
The coach continued: “It is what it is. It doesn’t affect me personally. Professionally, it’s difficult because we need the team to play in a certain way that requires certain things. It’s really difficult when the atmosphere is how it is. It’s aimed towards me, not towards them. I’m trying to say that to them. It should hopefully take a bit off them at some point. But it is what it is. We’ll keep working until I’m told not to. And we have to start winning.”
He added: “I haven’t been told to have talks with them. Will the support remain? I don’t know. We’ll see, won’t we? They’ve been great up until now. All of them. So we’ll see.”
According to Sky Sports Martin retains the support of the Rangers board and he is unlikely to exit Ibrox anytime soon. Rangers will next face Hibernian in a Scottish League Cup quarter-final clash.
