Has Martin Lost Backing At Ibrox To Turn Rangers Around?

"We'll see".

That was nan reply Rangers caput coach Russell Martin gave erstwhile asked if he was definite his committee would proceed to support him fixed what is unfolding astatine Ibrox.

It was acold from convincing. In stark opposition to his erstwhile statements wherever certainty oozed retired of him during what has now descended into a captious messiness for Rangers.

"Will you resign?" he was asked successful his property conference, to which he responded pinch a patient "no," aft a instrumentality media typical explained an overwhelming magnitude of fans want him to leave.

That speech edged connected dispute to opportunity nan least.

This each aft enduring nan rather venomous wrath of a mostly of fans, pinch nan 2-0 defeat astatine home, to nan now Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts, leaving Martin's broadside 10th retired of 12 teams successful Scotland's apical convention aft 5 games.

It's unthinkable for nan nine and a support fixed renewed, and long-awaited, dream of challenging Celtic earlier this twelvemonth aft a US-led consortium took power of nan club.

Four draws and now a conclusion is beyond situation fixed nan demands of being successful complaint of Rangers. It's been 47 years since nan nine grounded to triumph successful their opening 5 convention fixtures.

You past chuck successful a humiliating exit successful nan Champions League play-off to Club Brugge.

The mobility now, aft truthful overmuch turmoil connected and disconnected nan parkland since nan erstwhile Southampton head took charge, is whether he tin move this astir aliases whether he will beryllium springiness nan opportunity to do so.

Inside Ibrox it was clear if things didn't spell Rangers' way, location was a beardown chance nan support would beryllium speedy to turn, pinch Martin nan attraction of their ire.

It unfolded precisely that way. Boos were deafening astatine times. "Sacked successful nan morning" was sung by immoderate location supporters. Many simply left, it each excessively overmuch to bear.

The build up had been dominated by his determination to proceed to omit Belgian world midfielder Nicolas Raskin contempt claiming an rumor pinch nan subordinate had been "resolved."

That rumor seems acold down nan pecking bid correct now.

"Only results will person them," Martin told BBC Scotland post-match.

"My occupation is to person nan players and nan unit wrong nan building aft a difficult day and springiness them capable support and item to improve.

"It is not going to beryllium an easy travel for maine to triumph favour. It hasn't been from time 1 pinch a batch of people, but we'll support moving and make judge it does.

"Professionally, it hurts a spot because cipher sees really difficult you work.

"No-one sees nan worldly you person to woody with, but it is what it is and is nan occupation of a shot manager."

Victorius head Derek McInnes felt compelled to explicate really unfair he felt Martin's curen had been during nan match. That possibly shines a ray connected really toxic this became.

Former Rangers winger Neil McCann was portion of Barry Ferguson's interim coaching squad past season, and is not clear connected whether Martin tin past this latest setback and remain.

"I'm not sure," he said.

"I really felt for him and he looked really uncomfortable astatine nan extremity of nan game.

"I cognize he's not 1 for stepping distant but erstwhile nan fans show their disdain and their displeasure for illustration that past it's really difficult to travel done it.

"He would person to spell connected an tremendous tally to move that instrumentality guidelines because they request better."

Martin has only been successful complaint for conscionable complete 3 months. It is truthful early successful his tenure and nan level of alteration Rangers required was, and has been, drastic.

Most observers would recognise that mightiness return clip to embed, but clip is 1 point you don't get astatine Rangers. Not anymore, astatine least, aft sustained underachievement.

Martin intelligibly believes nan squad is now location to situation for nan title but nan equine whitethorn person already bolted successful position of taking connected Celtic, aliases possibly Hearts fixed their nine-point advantage complete nan Ibrox side. Brendan Rodgers' defending champions spell to Kilmarnock connected Sunday.

He said of "difficulty managing expectation" and players "feeling nan weight of it" arsenic they effort to established themselves.

He insisted nan gait of change, pinch a important squad overhaul, was required arsenic they were "not coming into a spot that is winning a lot," referencing a deficiency of trophies long-term.

There does look nan ground of a beardown squad, but it already seems a agelong roadworthy backmost for Martin fixed nan level ire he endured against Hearts and successful his post-match exchange.

When you suffer nan fans, nan result often becomes inevitable.

"The Rangers fans person had enough," said Billy Dodds, who was besides adjunct to Ferguson past season.

"They needed to get results to dampen it each coming and they've not done that.

"It's not bully erstwhile things don't spell good astatine Ibrox.

"Four draws and a defeat, you're going to travel nether pressure.

We asked for Rangers fans to stock their thoughts aft different dismal outing:

Here's a selction of their views:

Paul: This crippled whitethorn good beryllium Russell Martin's last. This cannot spell connected immoderate more, if location are Rangers fans still successful nan stands by nan extremity of this debacle I will beryllium surprised. The fans will ballot pinch their feet successful their droves. Martin isn't trim retired for this, we request personification who knows what they're doing and we request it now!

Brian: Russell Martin could get america relegated. He's nan only personification connected Earth who thinks this is acceptable.

Brian: Martin is deluded, heard him opportunity earlier nan crippled "we are successful a bully spot astatine nan moment" - what aft a tie astatine location pinch an atrocious Celtic team? Sack him, he is an embarrassment!

Lee: Martin surely has to go. If you don't person nan players to play nan measurement you want you person to adapt. He isn't being a head he's being a dictator. You can't unit players to play successful a measurement that they intelligibly can't.

Alex: How galore chances does Russell Martin request to get? It is intelligibly evident he is retired of his extent and cannot manage. It was doubtful earlier he sewage nan position and now it is firmly confirmed that he is nan incorrect personification for nan job.

Jackie: I deliberation Martin needs to beryllium fixed much time. Can't conscionable support changing head aft a tally of bad results. At immoderate constituent we person to instrumentality to personification and spot it done to nan bitter end.

Baz: I said it aft nan first crippled of nan play really worried I was astir Russell Martin's assignment and really agelong a play it's going to be. Sadly, I've been proven correct and if he isn't sacked coming aliases tomorrow, nan crowds will commencement dropping and nan players assurance will get moreover little if that's possible.

Garry: Martin's strategies are nan meaning of insanity - doing nan aforesaid point many times and expecting different results. No wins, nary progress, and nary imaginable of being nan head by Christmas.