'Incredible reason' - Ally McCoist demands Russell Martin reveal secret behind mystery Rangers absence
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(Credit: Imago)
Jack Heath
Mon 15 September 2025 19:22, UK
Ally McCoist has called for Russell Martin to speak plainly over his decision to not play a Rangers fan-favourite this season.
The Gers 2-0 defeat to Hearts on the weekend (13 September) alarmed fans and pundits with former Liverpool midfielder Don Hutchison in disbelief that the Rangers board still back Martin.
Sources have told Football Insider that Rangers are exploring a deal for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain yet his arrival would do little to change the mood at the Ibrox.
Interest in the former Arsenal prodigy have raised questions over Nicolas Raskin who Martin has dropped at Rangers as the manager must make a decision over the Belgian’s future, Football Insider revealed on 14 September, as the reason for his absence remains hidden to the fans.
Credit: Imago
Speaking on talkSPORT (15 September), former Rangers striker McCoist slammed Martin’s handling of the Raskin situation.
The Scotsman fervently demanded answers for what was going on behind the scenes with the talented midfielder, saying: “There’s obviously a problem with Raskin right, there’s no doubt that something’s happened.
“But from where I’m sitting mate, and I don’t know whether you agree or not, you cannot bite your nose off to spite your face, right?
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“If you’ve [Martin] got a problem with Raskin, right, and he clearly has, I think he’s got to let the public know what that problem is, right?
“Because we’re all sitting there watching that game at the weekend…I watched the entire second half, and Raskin walks into that team, right?
“He scored for Belgium during the week in an international match, right?
So there’s nobody on the planet going to tell me that Raskin should not be in the Rangers starting XI.
“Why is he not in the starting XI, right?
You cannot leave him out if it’s to the detriment of the team.
“The team’s the most important thing, not an individual problem between a manager and a player.”
Under the failed experiment of Philippe Clement and the stewardship of Barry Ferguson in the turbulent 2024-25 season, the number 43 became instrumental for Rangers.
The 24-year-old was an ever-present at the heart of the pitch as he appeared in 45 matches across the campaign.
Moreover, from his midfield berth Raskin notched five goals and 11 assists in all competitions which showed his imperative nature for the Teddy Bears.
Nicolas Raskin 2024-25 all competitionsAppearances45Minutes played3,589Goals5Assists11(Source: Sofascore)
However, after being cast out by the ex-Saints manager, the former Standard Liege prodigy has been casted out.
A remarkably gifted individual being thrown out is a daft decision from Martin and thus far he is ruing his error.
By bringing the Belgian back into his collapsing midfield, there is still hope that the Rangers boss could turnaround his diabolical tenure by eating his words.