Chris Sutton hits out at Russell Martin after deserved Rangers sack, he didn’t help himself
Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers Enterprises made the long-awaited decision to finally sack Russell Martin at Rangers on Sunday.
It was long overdue, but Martin’s Rangers sacking was inevitable after he managed just five wins in 17 games this campaign.
The decision came after Rangers’ 1-1 draw at Falkirk on 5 October, in what was the final straw for Martin.
Steven Gerrard is a frontrunner for the Rangers job, as the decision over the new head coach goes into the latest international break.
There have been many suggestions as to why Martin didn’t work out at Rangers, and no surprise, Chris Sutton has a strong opinion on what really went wrong.
Chris Sutton claims Russell Martin ‘didn’t help himself’
Martin’s start at Rangers was catastrophic. From behind-the-scenes drama to results on the field, it got so bad that he needed a police escort in his final game.
His appointment raised eyebrows, and it was quickly seen that he wasn’t cut out for the size of the Rangers’ job, as Sutton believes Martin only has himself to blame.
Speaking on the Monday Night Club for BBC Sport, he said: “The name didn’t matter. The results mattered early on for him, and that’s what went against him.
“He didn’t necessarily help himself, did he? First league game against Motherwell, he came out and you know fired shots everywhere at the dressing room.
Russell Martin’s poor Rangers record:
- 17 games
- five wins
- six draws
- six losses
“But essentially, it was about results for Russell Martin, and maybe there was this perception that what he did at Southampton wasn’t good enough.”
Rangers’ season may not be a complete failure if Cavenagh and his board can make the correct next appointment before the international break concludes.
Either way, they haven’t done themselves any favours by keeping Martin as long as they did, as never at any point did he look like he could potentially be a success for Rangers.
It’s time for Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers to step up as Rangers leadership falters
Cavenagh, in particular, has come under scrutiny, even more so after the appointment of Kevin Thelwell.
The Rangers hierarchy already made a mistake in Martin, and their next appointment is simply vital.
Ibrox has become toxic as of late, and it’s not too late for the higher-ups to turn things around at the Govan club, but time is running out.
The international break comes at the perfect time for them to appoint the right man for the job and ease him in over the next two weeks.
Whoever it is, they must simply win at all costs every single week.
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