49ers hand forced on Russell Martin sack after late scenes at Ibrox
Russell Martin’s tenure went from bad to worse as Rangers fell to defeat at home to Hearts on Saturday.
Rangers were beaten 2-0 by Hearts at Ibrox to make it four draws and a defeat from five Scottish Premiership matches this season.
Rangers fans called for Martin to be sacked near the end of the match as the atmosphere turned more toxic than ever.
Indeed, even club legend Ally McCoist piled in on Martin as the pressure continues to intensify on the former Southampton boss.
And it may well be that Rangers chiefs the 49ers’ hand is forced when it comes to Martin‘s future at Ibrox.
This story includes exclusive comments from Gers icon Derek Ferguson.
Rangers fans make Russell Martin thoughts clear at Ibrox
Ibrox got its cue to empty when Lawrence Shankland put Hearts two goals up with around eight minutes to go in Saturday’s dismal defeat.
The fans who remained called for Martin’s head, but many were already out of the ground by the time the full-time whistle sounded.
And in the view of former Rangers player Derek Ferguson, it is the emptying of the ground that may prove to be the final straw for the 49ers.
“Russell Martin may still be backed by the 49ers, but the fans have voted,” he told Ibrox News. “Ten minutes to go and a practically an empty stadium as fans head home in dismay.
“Rangers are not a project; they are expected to compete for titles. They are way below standard in every sense.“
What is Russell Martin’s record as Rangers manager?
Martin was only appointed by the 49ers in the summer but his record makes for dire reading.
It is now three wins from 12 matches in all competitions, which includes Rangers’ 9-1 defeat to Club Brugge on aggregate.
Martin’s win rate is at a lowly 25 per cent, which it goes without saying is nowhere near where it should be for a Rangers manager expected to win every domestic match.
| Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win percentage |
| 12 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 25 |
The 49ers may have wanted to give Martin time to turn things around, but it is quite clear that cannot happen.
Martin simply needs to go in time for Rangers’ clash with Hibernian in a week’s time.
Enjoyed this article? Stay connected with all the latest Rangers news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following us on our new Instagram account –@ibroxnews247