Rangers fans may have wanted even worse thrashing to get Russell Martin sacked - Tom English
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Credit: Imago
Harri Burton
Thu 28 August 2025 14:51, UK
Russell Martin appears to be lucky enough to have got away with only a 6-0 Champions League thrashing to the frustration of Rangers supporters.
The Light Blues were knocked out of Champions League qualifying rather convincingly by Club Brugge on Wednesday, 27 August, losing 9-1 on aggregate, and are now demoted to the Europa League.
Despite winning just 33 per cent of his games since taking charge at Ibrox, Martin’s position at Rangers looks to be safe, at least right now, despite increasing pressure from an angry fanbase.
An Old Firm derby against Celtic on Sunday, 31 August, could certainly turn the tide for the former Southampton boss, who continues to suggest that the squad is not fit for purpose.
However, many supporters pointed out that the majority of the squad fielded against Club Brugge was made up of his signings from over the summer, including the dismissed Max Aarons.
Now, it has been suggested that fans would have sacrificed a bigger beating if it meant Martin losing his position.
Writing for BBC Sport (28 August), Tom English said: “Long before the end, amid their untrammelled fury, it would have been easy to picture Rangers people willing Brugge on.
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“Encouraging them in their pursuit of a bigger score and, potentially, an irrecoverable mortification for Martin and his staff.
Short-term pain for the medium-term of a manager being shown the door.”
Football Insider verdict
A defeat to Celtic in front of a packed-out Ibrox crowd could already be the final nail in the coffin for Martin, who has taken charge of just 10 matches since his appointment.
Brendan Rodgers is also facing criticism at Celtic Park, though most of the pressure has been aimed at the boardroom for their lack of activity in the transfer market, which has not helped the manager’s cause.
The Gers have won two of the last three meetings, only losing the Scottish Cup final on penalties on one of those occasions, but there appears to be much more riding on this game already.
Credit: Imago
Martin’s side are already six points behind their Old Firm rivals, having drawn their opening three games of the campaign against Motherwell, Dundee, and St Mirren.
It feels far too early to judge the 39-year-old’s time in Scotland, but as many before him learned pretty quickly, supporters are desperately pushing for improvement at Ibrox.
An even worse result for the Gers in the Champions League qualifier might have changed things for the better, but as it stands, Martin has the backing from the boardroom this season.