Football
Exclusive: Rangers Crisis Deepens as Club Chiefs Assess Russell Martin’s Position
Rangers' boss Russell Martin is under scrutiny after a poor start to the season, with fans calling for his dismissal. The club's hierarchy is considering making a change unless results improve, with a defeat against Hibernian potentially sealing his fate. Martin has struggled to replicate his past success, winning only three out of 12 games in charge.
Rangers v Club Brugge - UEFA Champions League Play-offs Round First Leg by Ian MacNicol | Getty Images
Rangers are weighing up whether to sack struggling boss Russell Martin after a poor start to the season, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
The misfiring Gers are languishing in tenth place in the table after four draws and one defeat from their opening five Scottish Premiership fixtures.
And a large section of the Glaswegian club’s disgruntled supporters have already called for Martin’s head after a dire start without a league victory.
The 55-time league winners were stunned 2-0 by Hearts on Saturday at Ibrox Park, a poor result that follows frustrating draws with Motherwell, Dundee, St Mirren and Celtic.
Rangers were also thrashed 9-1 on aggregate by Belgian side Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League play-offs.
And our sources have learnt Rangers’ hierarchy are considering whether it will soon be time for a change unless results drastically improve.
SHOCK DEFEAT
Defeat to Hibernian in the Scottish League Cup in the club’s next game could be the final nail in the coffin for Martin, although it is understood the former Southampton, Swansea City and MK Dons boss knows time is running out to prove his worth.
Rangers finished second last season behind Scottish champions and arch-rivals Celtic, but this season the club put their trust in Martin to help them push for the title.
But the club have had a terrible start and are now playing catch-up with the Hoops, who are already nine points ahead of them in the league table.
It has been reported that the Gers would have to fork out around £600,000-£700,000 if they were to sack Martin so early in his contract, but a club insider has told SportsBoom that the next few games will be pivotal in whether Martin stays or goes.
Martin has only been at Ibrox since June this year after penning a three-year deal with the club.
He impressed at former club Southampton with a 45.21% win percentage but has won just three of his first 12 games in charge with the Gers.
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.