Kevin Thelwell has just told Russell Martin when he could get sacked at Rangers
Patrick Stewart and Kevin Thelwell could potentially have a massive decision to make on Russell Martin at Rangers sooner rather than later.
The Scottish manager was appointed after Barry Ferguson’s departure at the end of last season, but he certainly wasn’t the first choice to lead the Gers in the supporters’ eyes.
Martin is now under immense pressure at Ibrox, with the worst start to a league season in 42 years and drawing the first four games in the William Hill Premiership.
Celtic haven’t been at their best under Brendan Rodgers this season, and despite the draw in the Old Firm derby, the former Southampton boss may not have much time left in the dugout.
Kevin Thelwell admits immediate change needed at Rangers
Thelwell admits that there was a realisation among the Gers hierarchy that things needed to improve quickly after the damaging defeat against Club Brugge.
The Light Blues lost 9-1 on aggregate in the Champions League play-off against the Jupiler Pro League outfit, which should undoubtedly have raised alarm bells at Ibrox.
While Martin has managed to keep his job at the Glaswegian outfit for now, the upcoming fixtures could potentially be significant in determining his future.
Speaking to RangersTV on 3 September, Thelwell said: “And in particular, I’d turn to one game in particular that I think is the most disappointing for us, which is the Club Brugge game away. So, a very difficult game for everybody, the fans included.
“And I think we all understand, or certainly understood after that game, that we needed to put it right quickly. And hopefully we’ll do that over the course of the next games.”
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Hearts game may be pivotal for Russell Martin
A majority of the Ibrox faithful have already had enough of Martin’s failures and would undoubtedly like to see a change in G51.
The Scottish manager’s tenure hasn’t got off to the best of starts, and the game against Hearts may be make or break for him.
Under Derek McInnes, the Jambos find themselves level on points with Celtic after an impressive start to the season.
| Competition | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses |
| Champions League qualifying | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| William Hill Premiership | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Premier Sports Cup | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Rangers should think about sacking Martin if he loses to Hearts, which could see them go nine points ahead in the league table.
The disappointment in the Champions League, combined with the poor start to the league campaign, makes it more challenging for Thelwell and others to stick by the ex-Saints boss.
There can be no more excuses for Martin’s failures going forward, and his dismissal may be on the cards soon after the international break.
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