Russell Martin sack threat ‘still on the table’ with possible Rangers timeline set
Rangers progressed to the semi-finals of the Premier Sports Cup following a 2-0 win over Hibs at Ibrox.
Nico Raskin and Bojan Miovski’s first-half goals was enough for Rangers to secure a much-needed victory in front of a tense Ibrox crowd.
Rangers fan protests took place outside Ibrox before the match, and seats were left empty due to the toxicity around the club.
The win eased pressure off Russell Martin, however, the former Southampton manager is not out of the woods yet.
Russell Martin still in must-win territory as sack threat still looms
The win on Saturday has bought Martin another week in charge at G51, but he must string together a run of wins if he is to get the fans back onside.
Speaking on the Rangers Review YouTube channel on 20 September, journalist Chris Jack gave his thoughts on what the result vs Hibs means for Martin’s future.
He said: “He’s still under huge pressure. This does not change the situation, and it gives him a stay of execution, and the possibility that he will be sacked has to remain on the table.
“The number of fans that weren’t here today is significant. This is a side that is turning the fans off, and that is unsustainable.”
Jack added: “He’s had all the backing in the world both publicly and privately, and it’s up to him to try and capitalise on that.
“If he does, who knows where Rangers will be, if he doesn’t, we’ll be standing here in a couple of weeks as Rangers have a new manager in the dugout.”
Martin’s reintroduction of Raskin will have pleased fans, with the Belgium international scoring his first goal of the season to bail out Martin.
It’s a small step on a long journey to regain the trust of the fans, with the manager’s current record at the club completely woeful.
| Team | Win percentage |
| MK Dons | 37.50 |
| Swansea | 36.36 |
| Southampton | 45.21 |
| Rangers | 30.77 |
Martin oversaw a 9-1 aggregate defeat to Club Brugge in the Champions League playoffs, whilst Rangers also sit 11th in the William Hill Premiership table.
Fans will be relieved rather than pleased with the win, and Martin must now lead Rangers to a win against an out-of-sorts Genk side in their Europa League opener.
Rangers fans have many reasons to be furious with the board
Rangers have risen their ticket prices for their Europa League campaign, sparking outrage at a time when the team is performing terribly in the league.
With tickets costing up to £47 for matches that aren’t even in Europe’s elite competition, fans are rightfully furious at the board.
Martin’s style of play has outraged fans, with the team lacking creativity or speed when on the ball, and looking so defensively fragile in transition.
Whilst the win against Hibs does build some momentum ahead of their tricky run of fixtures, performances will have to keep improving if Martin is to have any chance of lasting until Christmas.
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