Russell Martin refuses to resign as Rangers slump continues, says players are 'scared' amid hostile Ibrox atmosphere
After a 2-0 home defeat to Hearts left Rangers with their worst league start in 47 years, Martin blames crowd tension and anxiety for poor performances but vows to stay
Russell Martin said he will not resign following Rangers’ 2-0 home defeat to Hearts on Saturday, blaming a hostile Ibrox atmosphere and heightened player anxiety for a run that has left the club 10th in the Premiership.
Rangers have gone five league matches without a win and have four points from five games — their worst start to a campaign in 47 years — while Hearts sit top of the table, nine points ahead. Lawrence Shankland scored twice as the visitors secured the win at Ibrox.
Martin, 39, was booed throughout the match and faced chants calling for his dismissal. Asked whether he would quit, he replied simply: "No." He said the abuse was "their opinion" and that he could not criticise supporters for expressing it, but added that the atmosphere was affecting his players’ ability to perform.
"It's aimed towards me, not towards them (the players)," Martin said. "We have a lot of new guys in there. We have a lot of players trying to feel their way in an environment that's really difficult. It's not tactics, mate. They're scared. We see a very different team in training to the game." He said the issues were related to emotion, anxiety and psychological factors and called for simplification to help the squad cope.
Martin also criticised several match decisions. He said the build-up to Hearts' opening goal involved a handball by Shankland, that Rangers' disallowed goal when substitute Derek Cornelius was ruled to have fouled goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow should have stood, and that a late penalty awarded to Hearts for a foul by Mohamed Diomande on Harry Milne was harsh. "We're on the side of three poor decisions, in my opinion," he said.
He acknowledged he had not been satisfied with the team's performance. "I've not been happy with the level of performance. Also, it's my job to work out why. It's not a big tactical problem," Martin said. "The problems are the emotion, managing anxiety and psychological. We have to try and work that out and we have to maybe simplify it even more." He added that he would continue working "until I'm told not to, but we have to start winning."
Martin said there were no plans for a meeting with CEO Patrick Stewart or chairman Andrew Cavenagh, and he was uncertain how the club's US owners would react. "I don't know. We'll see, won't we? They've been great up until now. All of them. So we'll see," he said.
Fans' frustration has been visible throughout the opening month of the season and boiled over during Saturday's defeat. Martin said the negativity in the stadium makes it difficult for players to translate the performances he sees during the week into matches. He suggested the coaching staff will focus on players' wellbeing and psychological preparation as much as on tactical adjustments.
Rangers' poor start contrasts sharply with Hearts, who have begun the season strongly and sit at the top of the Premiership table after the fifth round of fixtures. The result and the surrounding atmosphere intensify the immediate pressure on Martin to arrest the slide and improve results.
The club faces scrutiny from supporters and the media as it prepares for its next fixtures. Martin repeated his willingness to continue working with the squad, emphasising the need to stabilise the players mentally and improve on-field outcomes as Rangers seek to climb the table.