Barry Ferguson responds to Russell Martin sack suggestion he’s personally heard
Barry Ferguson has already heard suggestions that Russell Martin could be sacked despite his Rangers stint in its infancy.
Martin took the Ibrox helm in early June after the Glasgow club endured a turbulent season under Philippe Clement and then caretaker boss Ferguson.
Rangers have enjoyed Champions League success, and now only Club Brugge stand in their way of the league phase.
However, the Gers’ domestic form has been underwhelming, leading to some questioning Martin already.
What Ferguson said about Martin sack suggestions at Rangers
Ferguson has already praised Martin for his decision to bench James Tavernier and Nicolas Raskin against Motherwell.
Indeed, Ferguson has never been one to shy away from making comments about the club he once managed and played for.
Although it was a short spell, the 47-year-old knows what it is like to be in the Ibrox dugout and is well-placed to speak his mind.
It has been a mixed bag so far for Martin at Rangers, with two wins, three draws, and a loss to his name.
| Date | Competition | Result |
| 22 July | Champions League | Rangers 2-0 Panathinaikos |
| 30 July | Champions League | Panathinaikos 1-1 Rangers |
| 2 August | Scottish Premiership | Motherwell 1-1 Rangers |
| 5 August | Champions League | Rangers 3-0 Viktoria Plzen |
| 9 August | Scottish Premiership | Rangers 1-1 Dundee |
| 12 August | Champions League | Viktoria Plzen 1-2 Rangers |
Of course, the loss to Viktoria Plzen was meaningless, and it is the results against Motherwell and Dundee that have done the damage.
“I’ve heard one or two people calling for his head already, and as crazy as that may seem, the manager shouldn’t make the mistake of taking any of it personally,” he said via the Daily Record on 15 August.
“The truth is he’s probably paying the price for years of underachievement which have taken a heavy toll.
“The fans were already running out of patience long before his appointment, for the simple reason that they’ve had to suffer so many seasons of disappointment. And that’s not acceptable at Ibrox.”
Read more: ‘Same old’ – Ferguson completely split at Rangers transfer news he’s heard
Is Martin in danger of Ibrox sack already?
The short answer to that question is no.
While Scottish Premiership results and performances have been disappointing, it is far too early to be talking about sacking Martin.
The Rangers hierarchy brought the former Southampton boss in on a three-year contract and will want to give him every chance to succeed.
A wealth of players have arrived at Ibrox this summer, and it will take time for everything to click.
- Martin has been given a long contract at Ibrox
- A host of new signings have arrived
- The Light Blues must close a 17-point gap on Celtic
Of course, if poor league results were to continue or decline, then sack talk would accelerate, and the pressure would set in.
While it is far too early to consider such an outcome, this is the nature of the Ibrox hotseat.
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