Russell Martin was fired by the Rangers hours after a costly draw at Falkirk. Martin left the Rangers, who won five out of five out of 17 matches in all competitions, and the draw at Falkirk Stadium proved to be the final straw in the club’s hierarchy when he finally heard the fans talk.
GERS only won one in seven Scottish Premiership games under former Swansea and Southampton boss Martin. That drifts the hearts of the league leaders 11 points, leaving the nine behind Arch rival Celtic. The Glasgow Giants led 1-0 at Falkirk through a goal in the first half of Bojang Mioffski, but were denied three points by a 73-minute Henry Cartwright equalizer.
A group of frustrated fans blocked a team bus outside the stadium and Martin had to give his car a police escort. Fans clarified their anger with hymns and boos against the manager while there was a banner on the away end and revealed that the head coach wanted to be rejected.
The 39-year-old held support for the board for a long time, but the Light Blues also didn’t win from three games in the Europa League. That is, Martin will become the shortest tenure manager of a permanent Rangers boss who has only been in charge for four months in the club’s 153-person history.
The official statement on Sunday night read: “The Rangers Football Club has confirmed that they have said goodbye to head coach Russell Martin, and although all transition periods take time, the results do not meet the club’s expectations.
“Assistant Coach Matt Gill and first-team coach Mike Williamson will also be leaving. Russell and his staff have worked very hard throughout their time at the club. We appreciate their efforts and we hope to them well for the future.
Hours before he was fired, Martin made it clear he would not resign from his job, telling Sky Sports:
“In my opinion, we need ways to learn, grow and develop. In my opinion, we cannot win sustainably, and we cannot win.
“We don’t have it. We have a lot of young players who are growing up to it, they need a lot of help. My job is to keep trying to help them.
Martin added about the pressure he was facing: “I understand that because we’re building without the outcomes we want right now. It’s part of this job at a football club. There’s more scrutiny and strength than most places. I’m something you have to deal with.
“And like I said, I’ll make the most of it until I’m told not to. I don’t control it. I felt really well supported by everyone, including this morning.
