Rangers manager Russell Martin and Simon Jordan in circular inset
(Credit: Imago)
Aheed Abrar
Wed 20 August 2025 13:40, UK
Russell Martin will hope for more time at Rangers after losing to Club Brugge in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Club Brugge won 3-1 against Rangers in the first leg of the play-off, dominating the Gers in the opening 45 minutes.
While Danilo’s goal may have given Martin some hope, the Belgian outfit are arguably the clear favourites to proceed to the group stage of the European competition.
Supporters in G51 are already growing weary of the Scottish manager, but their resignation regarding the former Southampton boss may be misguided right now.
Rangers manager Russell Martin
(Credit: Imago)
Russell Martin can’t fix Rangers problems after few matches
Martin couldn’t have done much about two of the goals the Gers conceded against Brugge in the 3-1 defeat, Simon Jordan says.
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The talkSPORT pundit has slammed “foolish” suggestions that the Scottish manager should’ve been able to fix all the issues at Ibrox in a short period.
Jordan has backed the 39-year-old head coach and believes even Pep Guardiola would have a tough time initially getting precisely what he wants from his players.
Speaking on talkSPORT on 20 August, the ex-Crystal Palace owner said: “Now, going to the situation with Rangers, the two goals being referred to, he can’t do much about the communication between a goalkeeper and a centre-back, and he can’t do much about players not doing their jobs besides drilling it into them over a period of time.
“And if anybody feels you can fix a team’s ails and challenges in six games, then they’re bloody foolish. Because no one can do it. You can get the best manager in the world, you can get Guardiola in there, and he will not get exactly what you require of the players.”
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Russell Martin risks sack by end of August at Ibrox
Martin may be unlucky for his tenure at Ibrox to come under the scanner so early in the season, but that’s the sort of pressure managing the Gers brings.
The Scottish manager hasn’t been able to win many fans over due to the consistently poor performances from the Light Blues at the start of the 2025/26 campaign.
With the Glaswegian outfit failing to win their opening two fixtures of the William Hill Premiership, the 39-year-old head coach is rightly being questioned.
Martin has won just three of his opening eight games as the Gers manager.
The Light Blues could potentially be 10 points behind Celtic if they lose their next two league matches.
After the defeat against Brugge, the Glaswegian outfit’s hopes of qualifying for the group stage look slim.
If Rangers lose to Celtic on 31 August, the former Southampton boss may be in serious trouble in G51.
The Gers are already four points behind their Old Firm rivals, and that could potentially increase in the coming weeks, leaving the Scottish manager in a tough spot.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises take drastic measures if Martin doesn’t live up to the billing in August.
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