Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers won't like this as Russell Martin sack claim leaves Paul Merson stunned at Rangers

Rangers fans have protested against Russell Martin ahead of their game against Hibernian, and there have been mixed reactions.

Martin and Patrick Stewart were targeted by Rangers fans outside the main entrance at Ibrox as they made their feelings clear, that both should be dismissed.

Andrew Cavenagh flew in to attend the cup clash with Hibs, which Rangers need to win as perhaps their best chance of silverware after a dismal start to the league season.

While Martin is the main figurehead of Rangers' fan anger, the board and owners have also been namedropped amid the fan fury.

Paul Merson makes claim over Rangers owners

With Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises director Gretar Steinsson in attendance at Ibrox to see the protests and the match, they will be exposed first-hand to the anger directed at Martin and Stewart.

Martin has reached his breaking point at Rangers, and even if they beat Hibernian, the fan anger towards him has meant that it will not be enough to repair the completely broken relationship between them.

Speaking on Sky Sports News, former Rangers striker Kris Boyd claimed that even if Rangers were to win their next ten games in a row, fans would still want Martin out, and that the longer he is there, the club owners would be targeted for protests.

"It's at the stage now, where if Rangers go and win 10 games in a row then lose the 11th, it'll go back to what it is now," Boyd claimed.

"The horse has bolted, there's no way back from this. It's now turning on the hierarchy."

Former Premier League star Paul Merson was surprised at this, and stated "wow" in response.

"They won't like that,'" Merson said when Boyd pointed out that the owners could face the wrath of the fans.

• Read more: Billy Dodds tells Russell Martin what needs to be done as Rangers fans protest vs Hibernian

Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers could damage own reputations

Right now, there isn't as much anger directed at the new Rangers owners as there is at Martin, Stewart and Kevin Thelwell, but this could quickly change.

If the owners dismiss Martin now, which would be an admission that hiring him was a mistake, the majority of fans would allow them the grace to replace him well, particularly if Stewart also leaves.

However, if they continue to back a clearly failing manager, despite the heavily vocal opposition towards him, it will appear as if the new owners have no interest in fan sentiment or results on the pitch, and anger could quickly be fired in their direction.

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