Russell Martin backed to land another top job in ‘crazy’ development after Rangers sack
Russell Martin has been predicted to walk into another top managerial role, despite the disaster that was his time at Rangers.
Rangers sacked Martin before the international break, after the Englishman had led his side to a historically bad start to the season.
The Gers won just one of their opening seven Scottish Premiership games, and now sit 11 points behind leaders Hearts.
The situation had become so toxic that Martin needed a police escort to leave Falkirk Stadium safely, after Rangers had been held to a 1-1 draw.
Rangers fans have been slammed for their treatment of Martin, but much of the blame must lie with the decision-makers who failed to dismiss the former Southampton man sooner.
Derek Ferguson makes Russell Martin call
Kevin Muscat looks set to replace Martin at Rangers, and the Australian will have a monumental job on his hands.
The Gers, under Martin, shipped 23 goals in just 17 games and earned just five wins. Chance creation had become a serious problem, with Djeidi Gassama often relied upon, despite arriving in Glasgow just three months ago.
| Rangers | Scottish Premiership 2025-26 |
| Points | 8 |
| Goals per match | 0.9 |
| Goals conceded per match | 1 |
| Clean sheets | 1 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 9.1 |
| Goals scored | 6 |
Muscat now faces the task of putting a Rangers side back together, after a start to the season that has left confidence at an all-time low in the wake of Martin’s tenure.
Derek Ferguson believes Martin may well find another top job, however, despite the total failure of his time in Scotland.
“It’s crazy,” the former Rangers midfielder exclusively told Ibrox News. “He’s not got that good a record and he was so poor at Rangers.
“You know what, he’s got to be sitting somewhere asking himself ‘what have I done?’ He’s let such a big opportunity pass him by, all because he wanted to play a certain style.
“If he’d just come in, won a few games and then tried to do things his own way, then he’d have walked away from this job three years down the line in such a better place.
“You look at him now and he’s a man who’s all over the ship. He must be feeling insecure about himself. In terms of his next job, well football’s crazy because sometimes you get rewarded for failure.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he walked into another high-profile job.“
Rangers expected more from manager dubbed ‘one of the best’
When Martin arrived in June, Rangers fans were delighted to see a host of positive comments from his former players.
Todd Cantwell, who enjoyed a strong 18 months at Ibrox between 2023 and 2024 before leaving in controversial circumstances, described the manager as “one of the best I’ve worked with”.
The midfielder had said there would be “exciting times” for Rangers fans, but he could not have been more wrong.
Martin is clearly not lacking in potential as a manager, but the Gers came at the wrong time for the 39-year-old, who still has some experience to gain.
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