Russell Martin sack trigger named as pundit in disbelief at Rangers mistake - 'He's gonna go'
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(Credit: Imago)
Jack Heath
Tue 16 September 2025 15:24, UK
Russell Martin could lose his job after the next game as a former Tottenham star cannot believe Rangers hired the Southampton flop in the first place.
Smashed in the Champions League and struggling domestically, Rangers fans are demanding for Martin to be sacked.
Despite the 2-0 defeat to Hearts on 13 September, the Rangers board is backing Martin which has left ex-Liverpool midfielder Don Hutchison in disbelief.
The appalling start to the 2025-26 campaign has seen various names be thrown around with Barry Ferguson wanted by Rangers fans to replace Martin in an unlikely return.
Ex-Wolves midfielder Jamie O’Hara was astounded by the original appointment of the former Saints boss as he feels a defeat to Hibernian in the League Cup could spell the end for the Englishman at the Ibrox.
Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media
Discussing the catastrophic situation in Glasgow on Sky Sports News (16 September), the player-turned-pundit questioned the resolve and poor managerial history of Martin.
O’Hara couldn’t understand why the Englishman was brought in in the first place as patience is running out with the Teddy Bears manager, stating: “He’s gonna go.
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“I was in Scotland the other day and, let me tell you now, Rangers fans, they are not happy.
They are absolutely fuming, they can’t stand him.
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“What credentials did he have to go and get the Rangers job?
He hasn’t been used to winning, they get pumped, they [Southampton] got pumped in the Premier League… Rangers need fight and spirit.
“I don’t think Russell Martin is that guy.
“You’ve got to make the decision and say ‘this ain’t worked out’ and you’ve got to bite the bullet.”
When asked when the former Swansea City boss could lose his job, O’Hara set a countdown, adding: “If they [Rangers] lose that [the League Cup tie against Hibernian on 20 September] he’s gone.”
Once hailed as the ideal man to take the Gers to the next level given his knowledge of playing for Rangers in his playing days, Martin has severely underwhelmed thus far.
Despite surprisingly taking Southampton to the Premier League the Englishman was quickly found out in the top-flight and swiftly lost his job.
The hierarchy at the Ibrox ignored the calamitous chain of events on the south coast to give the 39-year-old another chance to prove himself as a manager.
Russell Martin Rangers record (as of 16 September) Games managed12Wins3Draws5Defeats4(Source: Sofascore)
Yet, only 12 games in and that faith seems to have been wasted on a man who has not lived up to high expectations.
Rangers fans are impatient and demand a high level week-in-week-out which the ex-Saints boss has failed to provide.
The board made a major error and will now pay for their lack of judgement as fan and club relations look set to continue down a rocky path.