(Credit: Hasan Karim - Breaking Media, Imago)

Oliver Walton

Sat 9 August 2025 20:54, UK

Rangers fans are calling for Russell Martin to be sacked after just two league games of his managerial tenure after the Ibrox outfit limped to a draw against Dundee on Saturday (9 August).

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Martin was hired as Rangers‘ new head-coach in June, with him returning to the club after a short loan spell as a player back in 2018.

The 39-year-old has started strongly in the Champions League qualifiers with wins over the likes of Panathanikos and Viktoria Plzen, but the Gers’ early-season league form has been poor so far.

Rangers were held to a 1-1 draw on the opening day of the Scottish Premiership against Motherwell, after which Martin claimed there was a “mentality problem” among some of his squad.

Things did not get any better as they returned to Ibrox for his first home league game at the helm, with a late James Tavernier penalty rescuing a point against Dundee, and some sections of the Gers’ support have already seen enough.

Rangers struggled to create chances as they took to the Ibrox pitch for the first time in the Scottish Premiership this season, and they were made to pay for their poor performance early in the second-half as Ryan Astley nodded past Jack Butland to give the visitors the lead.

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The Gers’ supporters became increasingly irate at their players’ lack of desire to find an equaliser, and things went from bad to worse in the 59th minute as Nasser Djiga saw red for a last-man tackle on Finlay Robertson.

(Credit Imago)

Summer signing and new star man Djeidi Gassama managed to win a penalty in added-time at the end of the clash, and the ever-reliable James Tavernier converted to snatch a point.

Martin thought his side had won the game not long after as Cyriel Dessers fired home in the 97th minute, but his goal was disallowed for offside by VAR, and so it ended 1-1 as the Gers failed to win both of their first two league games of the campaign for the first time in 36 years.

Rangers fans are demanding dominant performances and wins under Martin as they look to challenge Celtic for the title once more, but some of the Ibrox faithful have already seen enough of the former Southampton boss.

It would certainly be a shock to see Martin relieved of his duties this early on in his Rangers tenure, but things clearly do need to get better as soon as possible in the league, or he could well be facing the music soon.

The 39-year-old’s current saving grace is his side’s European form, with the Gers effectively having one foot in the Champions League play-off round after their comfortable 3-0 win over Viktoria Plzen in the week.

(Credit: Imago)

49ers Enterprises completed their takeover at Ibrox earlier in the summer, and the new owners certainly took a gamble by appointing Martin, but it is now one that they must be willing to stick by after the first signs of potential failure.

There is still a long season ahead for all connected to the Gers, and while their start has obviously been less-than ideal, they must keep pushing on and trusting Martin to get it right in the long-run, at least for now.

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