Russell Martin will take charge of Rangers against Celtic after the Ibrox board backed the under-fire head coach after their humiliating thrashing by Club Brugge. Sky Sports News understands his position is not under consideration ahead of Sundays Old Firm clash at Ibrox – live on Sky Sports.
Fans in the away end in Belgium were heard calling for him to depart the club after just 84 days in charge. Report: Rangers hit for six by Club Brugge in play-off humiliationScottish Premiership games coming up live on Sky SportsGot Sky? Watch now on the Sky Sports app 📱 Not got Sky? Get instant access with no contract 📺The clubs Fan Advisory Board have since called for Martin to be replaced, irrespective of Sundays result against Celtic.
Rangers have won just three of their 10 matches under Martin, who has made the worst start as a permanent Rangers manager. The Ibrox side have drawn all three Scottish Premiership matches, and a defeat on Sunday would leave them nine points adrift of their rivals.
It is believed the US ownership group, including chairman Andrew Cavenagh, were already planning to attend the Old Firm match. The result across the two legs is the joint-third biggest margin in Champions League history and also extends his record to just three wins from 10 games at Ibrox – the worst of any manager in the clubs history.
Yet Martin, who watched as the remaining away supporters called for his sacking at full-time, has no fear of any immediate repercussions. I have nothing to say but really apologise to the fans that travelled and the fans back home, Martin told TNT Sports post-match.
The job of head coach and manager is to make sure it doesnt happen again and respond properly. We didnt respond well enough to an early setback tonight. It shouldnt happen, its such basics. Now we have to show a big response on Sunday.
Patrick [Stewart] and Kevin [Thelwell], Ive had a chat with them already, theyre amazingly supportive. They knew this would take time, they understand the clubs position. Martin would also go on to continue his rhetoric about a lack of commitment from certain players, a sentiment he also ushered following the 1-1 draw with St Mirren that saw Hamza Igamane allegedly refuse to come off the bench.
Theres not enough harmony or care for each other quite yet. But I knew that coming in, we have to build that, heal and get stronger through it, he said. There arent enough players who want to fight for each other and the club yet.
The window shuts on Monday. The harmony has been disrupted. Im not talking about individual players, Im talking about the group as a whole. The harmony of us. Its not an excuse, we need to be much better.
For us, it really hurts, its really humiliating tonight and we have to make sure we respond in the right way on Sunday. Martin should be replaced as a matter of urgencyThe Rangers Fan Advisory Board have called on the Ibrox club to replace Martin.
In a statement, they said, irrespective of the result on Sunday, it is clear to us the manager should be replaced as a matter of urgency before our justified anger gives way to apathy. They added the board must commit to a new manager who understands and accepts the standards that have been set by our successful teams in the past – and can deliver on them.
In November 2023, Rangers announced the establishment of the Fan Advisory Board and confirmed they would meet at regular intervals with senior club management. Rangers statement at the time added that the Fan Advisory Board would play a crucial role in shaping the future of Rangers FC, providing vital input and guidance on key club matters and policies.
Boyd: Rangers fans will want Martin gone Sky Sports Kris Boyd following his former sides 6-0 defeat to Club Brugge: There will be an investigation into this. So bad, so, so bad. It looks like a group that has absolutely chucked it.
Inside just weeks of a new manager coming in, its worrying. I know a few people said – myself included – that Russell Martin wouldnt lose his job off the back of a Champions League defeat. Because theres no disgrace in losing to Club Brugge.
But the way Rangers have lost – there will be a lot of Rangers fans wanting Russell Martin removed. I dont disagree [that he needs more time]. Thats football – but its totally different in Glasgow. If youre losing 9-1 to a team in the Champions League, its bad enough.
You can say youre going to be given time – with new owners coming in thats what they will look to do. But you have to see signs of improvement and thats not been the case. The reality is: you have two huge football clubs domestically, but when they go to Europe, they are shown up for what they are.
Both are obsessed with winning domestically. Celtic had more success than Rangers in recent times. but Celtic have their own issues – their fans are not happy with the board not spending money. But domestically they will be fine.
You wouldnt rule out Celtic winning another treble with the way this Rangers team are. Rangers will be hoping another team – a Hibernian, Hearts or Aberdeen – putting up a fight to stop Celtic winning a cup, because Rangers aint going to do anything the way things are now.
It is getting worse. That is really impossible to happen inside six or seven weeks into a new season. But Rangers have found a way. You speak about performances that could get managers the sack – this is heading in that direction.
I will struggle to see a way back for Russell Martin after this. Tavernier: We all have to take responsibility Rangers captain James Tavernier refused to outright back Martin when speaking with TNT Sports after the final whistle, but did admit that he and his teammates had to take responsibility for their poor start to the season.
For what we want to do as a team and as a club, we didnt represent the club in any good shape or form there. We had aspirations to get into the Champions League. Were in the Europa League now but its still early in the season.
But we have to make sure this is the last night or the last game that we feel like this will put in a performance like that. Myself and the senior boys have had a good chat in the dressing room. We all have to hold our hands up and be responsible.
The gaffer gives us a game plan. But you look at the goals that we conceded. We all have to be responsible individually and collectively. We cant concede easy goals like that. We have to showcase and prove to the manager and to the fans that we belong on the pitch.
We didnt do that tonight. Rangers FAB calls for Martin to be replacedThe Rangers Fan Advisory Board (FAB) has called on the Ibrox club to replace Martin. In a statement, the FAB said: Irrespective of the result on Sunday, it is clear to us the manager should be replaced as a matter of urgency before our justified anger gives way to apathy.
The board must commit to a new manager who understands and accepts the standards that have been set by our successful teams in the past – and can deliver on them. In November 2023, Rangers announced the establishment of the FAB and confirmed they would meet at regular intervals with senior club management.
Rangers statement at the time added that the FAB would play a crucial role in shaping the future of Rangers FC, providing vital input and guidance on key club matters and policies.
