Has Martin lost backing to turn Rangers around?

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“We’ll see”.

That was the answer Rangers head coach Russell Martin gave when asked if he was certain his board would continue to support him given what was unfolding at Ibrox.

It was far from convincing – and in stark contrast to his previous statements where certainty oozed out during what has now descended into a critical mess for the club.

“Will you resign?” he was asked in his press conference, to which he responded with a firm “no,” after a fan media representative explained an overwhelming amount of the Rangers support want him to leave.

That exchange edged on hostile to say the least.

This all came after enduring the quite venomous wrath of a majority of fans, with the 2-0 defeat at home by Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts leaving Martin’s side 10th out of the 12 teams after five winless games.

It’s unthinkable for Rangers and a support given renewed, and long-awaited, hope of challenging Celtic earlier this year after a US-led consortium took control.

Four draws and now this defeat is beyond a crisis given the demands of being in charge of the club. It’s been 47 years since they failed to win any of their opening five league fixtures.

You then chuck in a humiliating exit in the Champions League play-off to Club Brugge.

Ibrox turns toxic after another nightmare unfolds

It was clear at Ibrox that if things didn’t go Rangers’ way, there was a strong chance the support would be quick to turn, with Martin the focus of their ire.

It unfolded exactly like that. Boos were deafening at times and “sacked in the morning” was sung by some home supporters.

Many simply left, it was all too much to bear.

The build-up had been dominated by his decision to continue to omit Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin despite claiming an issue with the player had been “resolved”.

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“Only results will convince them,” Martin told BBC Scotland afterwards.

“My job is to convince the players and the staff inside the building after a difficult afternoon and give them enough support and detail to improve.

“It is not going to be an easy journey for me to win favour. It hasn’t been from day one with a lot of people, but we’ll keep working and make sure it does.

“Professionally, it hurts a bit because nobody sees how hard you work.

“No-one sees the stuff you have to deal with, but it is what it is and is the job of a football manager.”

Victorious Hearts manager Derek McInnes felt compelled to explain how unfair he felt Martin’s treatment had been during the match.

That perhaps shines a light on how toxic this became.

Former Rangers winger Neil McCann was part of Barry Ferguson’s interim coaching team last season, and has doubts whether Martin can survive this latest setback.

“I’m not sure,” he said. “I really felt for him and he looked really uncomfortable at the end of the game.

“I know he’s not one for walking away but when the fans show their disdain and their displeasure like that then it’s really difficult to come through it.

Case for the defence?

Martin has only been in charge for just over three months. It is so early in his tenure and the level of change Rangers required was, and has been, drastic.

Most observers would recognise that might take time to embed, but time is one thing you don’t get at Rangers. Not anymore, at least, after sustained underachievement.

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

Martin spoke of “difficulty managing expectation” and players “feeling the weight of it” as they try to establish themselves.

He insisted the pace of change, with a substantial squad overhaul, was required as they were “not coming into a place that is winning a lot”, referencing a lack of trophies.

There does look the basis of a strong squad, but it already seems a long road back for Martin given the level of anger he endured against Hearts and in his post-match exchange.

When you lose the fans, the outcome often becomes inevitable.

“The Rangers fans have had enough,” said Billy Dodds, who was also an assistant to Ferguson last season.

“They needed to get results to dampen it all today and they’ve not done that.

Fan view: ‘Martin could get Rangers relegated’

We asked for Rangers fans to share their thoughts after another dismal outing:

Here’s a selction of their views:

Paul: This game may well be Russell Martin’s last. This cannot go on any more, if there are Rangers fans still in the stands by the end of this debacle I will be surprised. The fans will vote with their feet in their droves. Martin isn’t cut out for this, we need someone who knows what they’re doing and we need it now!

Brian: Russell Martin could get us relegated. He’s the only person on Earth who thinks this is acceptable.

Brian: Martin is deluded, heard him say before the game, “we are in a good place at the moment”. What? After a draw at home with an awful Celtic team? Sack him, he is an embarrassment!

Lee: Martin surely has to go. If you don’t have the players to play the way you want you have to adapt. He isn’t being a manager he’s being a dictator. You can’t force players to play in a way that they clearly can’t.

Alex: How many chances does Russell Martin need to get? It is clearly obvious he is out of his depth and cannot manage. It was doubtful before he got the position and now it is firmly confirmed that he is the wrong person for the job.

Jackie: I think Martin needs to be given more time. Can’t just keep changing manager after a run of bad results. At some point we have to stick to someone and see it through to the bitter end.

Baz: I said it after the first game of the season how worried I was about Russell Martin’s appointment and how long a season it’s going to be. Sadly, I’ve been proven correct and if he isn’t sacked tonight or tomorrow, the crowds will start dropping and the players confidence will get even lower if that’s possible.

Related topics

  • Scottish Premiership
  • Rangers
  • Scottish Football
  • Football

Five games, four points, third-bottom – has Martin lost Rangers backing?

SNS

“We’ll see”.

That was the answer Rangers head coach Russell Martin gave when asked if he was certain his board would continue to support him given what was unfolding at Ibrox.

It was far from convincing – and in stark contrast to his previous statements where certainty oozed out during what has now descended into a critical mess for the club.

“Will you resign?” he was asked in his press conference, to which he responded with a firm “no,” after a fan media representative explained an overwhelming amount of the Rangers support want him to leave.

That exchange edged on hostile to say the least.

This all came after enduring the quite venomous wrath of a majority of fans, with the 2-0 defeat at home by Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts leaving Martin’s side 10th out of the 12 teams after five winless games.

It’s unthinkable for Rangers and a support given renewed, and long-awaited, hope of challenging Celtic earlier this year after a US-led consortium took control.

Four draws and now this defeat is beyond a crisis given the demands of being in charge of the club. It’s been 47 years since they failed to win any of their opening five league fixtures.

You then chuck in a humiliating exit in the Champions League play-off to Club Brugge.

Ibrox turns toxic after another nightmare unfolds

It was clear at Ibrox that if things didn’t go Rangers’ way, there was a strong chance the support would be quick to turn, with Martin the focus of their ire.

It unfolded exactly like that. Boos were deafening at times and “sacked in the morning” was sung by some home supporters.

Many simply left, it was all too much to bear.

The build-up had been dominated by his decision to continue to omit Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin despite claiming an issue with the player had been “resolved”.

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

“Only results will convince them,” Martin told BBC Scotland afterwards.

“My job is to convince the players and the staff inside the building after a difficult afternoon and give them enough support and detail to improve.

“It is not going to be an easy journey for me to win favour. It hasn’t been from day one with a lot of people, but we’ll keep working and make sure it does.

“Professionally, it hurts a bit because nobody sees how hard you work.

“No-one sees the stuff you have to deal with, but it is what it is and is the job of a football manager.”

Victorious Hearts manager Derek McInnes felt compelled to explain how unfair he felt Martin’s treatment had been during the match.

That perhaps shines a light on how toxic this became.

Former Rangers winger Neil McCann was part of Barry Ferguson’s interim coaching team last season, and has doubts whether Martin can survive this latest setback.

“I’m not sure,” he said. “I really felt for him and he looked really uncomfortable at the end of the game.

“I know he’s not one for walking away but when the fans show their disdain and their displeasure like that then it’s really difficult to come through it.

Case for the defence?

Martin has only been in charge for just over three months. It is so early in his tenure and the level of change Rangers required was, and has been, drastic.

Most observers would recognise that might take time to embed, but time is one thing you don’t get at Rangers. Not anymore, at least, after sustained underachievement.

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

Martin spoke of “difficulty managing expectation” and players “feeling the weight of it” as they try to establish themselves.

He insisted the pace of change, with a substantial squad overhaul, was required as they were “not coming into a place that is winning a lot”, referencing a lack of trophies.

There does look the basis of a strong squad, but it already seems a long road back for Martin given the level of anger he endured against Hearts and in his post-match exchange.

When you lose the fans, the outcome often becomes inevitable.

“The Rangers fans have had enough,” said Billy Dodds, who was also an assistant to Ferguson last season.

“They needed to get results to dampen it all today and they’ve not done that.

Fan view: ‘Martin could get Rangers relegated’

We asked for Rangers fans to share their thoughts after another dismal outing:

Here’s a selction of their views:

Paul: This game may well be Russell Martin’s last. This cannot go on any more, if there are Rangers fans still in the stands by the end of this debacle I will be surprised. The fans will vote with their feet in their droves. Martin isn’t cut out for this, we need someone who knows what they’re doing and we need it now!

Brian: Russell Martin could get us relegated. He’s the only person on Earth who thinks this is acceptable.

Brian: Martin is deluded, heard him say before the game, “we are in a good place at the moment”. What? After a draw at home with an awful Celtic team? Sack him, he is an embarrassment!

Lee: Martin surely has to go. If you don’t have the players to play the way you want you have to adapt. He isn’t being a manager he’s being a dictator. You can’t force players to play in a way that they clearly can’t.

Alex: How many chances does Russell Martin need to get? It is clearly obvious he is out of his depth and cannot manage. It was doubtful before he got the position and now it is firmly confirmed that he is the wrong person for the job.

Jackie: I think Martin needs to be given more time. Can’t just keep changing manager after a run of bad results. At some point we have to stick to someone and see it through to the bitter end.

Baz: I said it after the first game of the season how worried I was about Russell Martin’s appointment and how long a season it’s going to be. Sadly, I’ve been proven correct and if he isn’t sacked tonight or tomorrow, the crowds will start dropping and the players confidence will get even lower if that’s possible.

Related topics

  • Scottish Premiership
  • Rangers
  • Scottish Football
  • Football

Has Martin lost backing at Ibrox to turn Rangers around?

SNS

“We’ll see”.

That was the answer Rangers head coach Russell Martin gave when asked if he was certain his board would continue to support him given what is unfolding at Ibrox.

It was far from convincing. In stark contrast to his previous statements where certainty oozed out of him during what has now descended into a critical mess for Rangers.

“Will you resign?” he was asked in his press conference, to which he responded with a firm “no,” after a fan media representative explained an overwhelming amount of fans want him to leave.

That exchange edged on hostile to say the least.

This all after enduring the quite venomous wrath of a majority of fans, with the 2-0 defeat at home, to the now Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts, leaving Martin’s side 10th out of 12 teams in Scotland’s top league after five games.

It’s unthinkable for the club and a support given renewed, and long-awaited, hope of challenging Celtic earlier this year after a US-led consortium took control of the club.

Four draws and now a defeat is beyond crisis given the demands of being in charge of Rangers. It’s been 47 years since the club failed to win in their opening five league fixtures.

You then chuck in a humiliating exit in the Champions League play-off to Club Brugge.

Ibrox turns toxic after another nightmare unfolds

Inside Ibrox it was clear if things didn’t go Rangers’ way, there was a strong chance the support would be quick to turn, with Martin the focus of their ire.

It unfolded exactly that way. Boos were deafening at times. “Sacked in the morning” was sung by some home supporters. Many simply left, it all too much to bear.

The build up had been dominated by his decision to continue to omit Belgian international midfielder Nicolas Raskin despite claiming an issue with the player had been “resolved.”

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

“Only results will convince them,” Martin told BBC Scotland post-match.

“My job is to convince the players and the staff inside the building after a difficult afternoon and give them enough support and detail to improve.

“It is not going to be an easy journey for me to win favour. It hasn’t been from day one with a lot of people, but we’ll keep working and make sure it does.

“Professionally, it hurts a bit because nobody sees how hard you work.

“No-one sees the stuff you have to deal with, but it is what it is and is the job of a football manager.”

Victorius manager Derek McInnes felt compelled to explain how unfair he felt Martin’s treatment had been during the match. That perhaps shines a light on how toxic this became.

Former Rangers winger Neil McCann was part of Barry Ferguson’s interim coaching team last season, and is not clear on whether Martin can survive this latest setback and remain.

“I’m not sure,” he said.

“I really felt for him and he looked really uncomfortable at the end of the game.

“I know he’s not one for walking away but when the fans show their disdain and their displeasure like that then it’s really difficult to come through it.

Case for the defence?

Martin has only been in charge for just over three months. It is so early in his tenure and the level of change Rangers required was, and has been, drastic.

Most observers would recognise that might take time to embed, but time is one thing you don’t get at Rangers. Not anymore, at least, after sustained underachievement.

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

He spoke of “difficulty managing expectation” and players “feeling the weight of it” as they try to established themselves.

He insisted the pace of change, with a substantial squad overhaul, was required as they were “not coming into a place that is winning a lot,” referencing a lack of trophies long-term.

There does look the basis of a strong squad, but it already seems a long road back for Martin given the level ire he endured against Hearts and in his post-match exchange.

When you lose the fans, the outcome often becomes inevitable.

“The Rangers fans have had enough,” said Billy Dodds, who was also assistant to Ferguson last season.

“They needed to get results to dampen it all today and they’ve not done that.

“It’s not nice when things don’t go well at Ibrox.

Fan view: ‘Martin could get Rangers relegated’

We asked for Rangers fans to share their thoughts after another dismal outing:

Here’s a selction of their views:

Paul: This game may well be Russell Martin’s last. This cannot go on any more, if there are Rangers fans still in the stands by the end of this debacle I will be surprised. The fans will vote with their feet in their droves. Martin isn’t cut out for this, we need someone who knows what they’re doing and we need it now!

Brian: Russell Martin could get us relegated. He’s the only person on Earth who thinks this is acceptable.

Brian: Martin is deluded, heard him say before the game “we are in a good place at the moment” – what after a draw at home with an awful Celtic team? Sack him, he is an embarrassment!

Lee: Martin surely has to go. If you don’t have the players to play the way you want you have to adapt. He isn’t being a manager he’s being a dictator. You can’t force players to play in a way that they clearly can’t.

Alex: How many chances does Russell Martin need to get? It is clearly obvious he is out of his depth and cannot manage. It was doubtful before he got the position and now it is firmly confirmed that he is the wrong person for the job.

Jackie: I think Martin needs to be given more time. Can’t just keep changing manager after a run of bad results. At some point we have to stick to someone and see it through to the bitter end.

Baz: I said it after the first game of the season how worried I was about Russell Martin’s appointment and how long a season it’s going to be. Sadly, I’ve been proven correct and if he isn’t sacked tonight or tomorrow, the crowds will start dropping and the players confidence will get even lower if that’s possible.

Related topics

  • Scottish Premiership
  • Rangers
  • Scottish Football
  • Football

McCann wins on pro debut despite being kicked

Getty Images

Molly McCann said she “didn’t even get out of second gear” as the former UFC star launched her professional boxing career with an impressive technical knockout victory.

The 35-year-old Liverpool native stopped Ireland’s Kate Radomska in the final round of their six-round super bantamweight contest on the undercard of Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan’s world title fight at Belfast’s Windsor Park.

McCann landed several heavy shots during an impressive debut and dropped Radomska in the fifth round with a hard right hand.

However, she was also forced to compose herself after Radomska appeared to kick out at her in the second round while defending an attack from McCann in the corner.

“It was very different so I was happy with it,” McCann told BBC Radio 5 Live.

McCann, who added Radomska should have been deducted a point for the kick, said she felt as though she was learning on the job after a long career in a different fighting discipline.

“It didn’t hurt as much as sparring!

“The girls punched my head in more than that. It was really learning on the job.

“You know when you have your driving test and you’re a bit like “ahhh”, but you know how to drive, it was one of them. I’m happy.”

Analysing her fight on 5 Live, former undisputed world champion Josh Taylor predicted a title fight for McCann before too long.

“I’ve known her for a couple of years now, we’re training in Liverpool,” said the Scot.

“She’s improved a hell of a lot even from the last time I saw her.

Related topics

  • Northern Ireland Sport
  • Boxing

Taylor Swift fans left fuming as she reveals huge Life of a Showgirl teaser

In a rare instance of disappointment, Taylor Swift’s fans have reacted with disappointment as she shared the first clip of her new music ahead of her 12th album release

Taylor Swift fans have been underwhelmed by her new music teaser(Image: Getty)

Taylor Swift may be heading for disappointment as fans have reacted negatively to the first taste of her upcoming twelfth album. The American pop star, 35, has been churning out tunes since she was just 16 years old.

Since 2006, she has released 11 albums—and re-recorded four of them after temporarily losing the rights to her master tapes. She has released at least one album per year since 2019, but there may be signs of Taylor Swift fatigue emerging from her fanbase.

Next month, she will release her 12th record, titled The Life of a Showgirl. Fans will hear tunes that have been a collaboration between the Wildest Dreams hitmaker, Swedish music producer Shellback, and pop producer mega star Max Martin.

READ MORE: Taylor Swift ‘closer to being forced to appear’ in Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni trialREAD MORE: Taylor Swift shares update on Baldoni-Lively case as lawyer speaks out

Taylor Swift The Life of a Showgirl album cover
The new album, The Life of a Showgirl, is set for release on 3 October(Image: PR)

But signs of a backlash emerged on Friday as fans reacted with lacklustre interest to an album teaser. She shared a GIF on her official website that included a snippet of new music.

And plugging the record, she wrote: “Unlock the newest countdown page clip from The Life of a Showgirl” – while urging fans to “pre-save on Spotify” and Apple Music.

A seven-second clip from her The Tiny Bubbles in Champagne shoot that showed the star in a red feather outfit and wearing a stone-covered headdress. But the teaser content fell flat with usually devout fans.

Taking to X, one fan complained: “Go girl, give us nothing.” While another underwhelmed fan raged: “WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR TWO DAYS FOR THIS??”

Other fans complimented the singer, with one writing: “At least she’s pretty.” While another commented: “She’s lucky she’s stunning or else I’d be throwing hands right now.”

San Francisco 49ers v Kansas City Chiefs – Super Bowl LVIII – Allegiant Stadium
Swift is set to marry NFL star Travis Kelce(Image: PA Archive/PA Images)

Taylor has been plugging her new album since August when she first revealed plans to share new music – which is due on 3 October. She announced the news while appearing on boyfriend Travis Kelce’s New Heights podcast.

She then began sharing artwork from the album – and urged fans to order all manner of different versions of the album in various media formats. The star has been criticised by some for manipulating fans into buying multiple versions of her same album – maximising her earnings from her devoted fans.

Away from her music plans, however, Taylor thrilled fans even further when she revealed she said yes to her 35-year-old boyfriend Travis’s proposal. In a lavishly staged photograph, the couple posed in an extravagant rose garden with Travis on one knee and Taylor looking stunned as he asked for her hand in marriage.

Further snaps showed the couple affectionately holding each other and also giving a close up of the huge engagement ring.

Sharing their happy news with fans, the couple wrote on Instagram in August: “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.”

And in more good news for the singer, she managed to buy back the masters of her first six albums after losing them when her old record label was bought by music producer Scooter Braun.

After reportedly spending hundreds of millions to get her work back, Taylor wrote in a lengthy open letter: “I’m extremely heartened by the conversations this saga has reignited within my industry among artists and fans.

“Every time a new artist tells me they negotiated to own their master recordings in their record contract because of this fight, I’m reminded of how important it was for all of this to happen. Thank you for being curious about something that used to be thought of as too industry-centric for broad discussion. You’ll never know how much it means to me that you cared. Every single bit of it counted, and ended us up here.”

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She added, at the time: “Thanks to you and your goodwill, teamwork, and encouragement, the best things that have ever been mine… finally actually are.”

Strictly’s Ore Oduba shares tragic way sister’s suicide ‘changed his whole outlook’

Strictly Come Dancing winner Ore Oduba opened up about his feelings following the tragic death of his sister by suicide earlier in the year

Ore Oduba (Image: Getty Images for The National Lottery)

Strictly Come Dancing winner Ore Oduba has candidly opened up about how his life changed following the death of his sister Lola. In April, Lola died by suicide, and her death made her star brother have a major shift in his way of thinking.

Now, the presenter says he is going to make the most of every second in his life. The 39-year-old was raised in Dorset alongside his three siblings. His sister was the youngest in the family and had worked as a journalist and trained chef.

Lola, who had begun to identify as non-binary, had appeared on an episode of Come Dine With Me, but prior to their death, had faced a number of struggles.

Ore Oduba won Strictly Come Dancing in 2016
Ore Oduba won Strictly Come Dancing in 2016(Image: BANG Showbiz)

Following his sister’s death, Ore paid a touching tribute during an appearance on John Reynolds’ Extraordinary Life Stories podcast. He said: “I wasn’t prepared to lose my sister. She has been with me every day since. My sister is non-binary, they told us in their goodbye letter.

“They’ve been with me every day since, and what my sister did in choosing to find a peace in death that they couldn’t find in life; that was strength. That was courage and that was brave.”

He went on: “And having gone through the last four or five years of their life and hearing about their struggles physically and emotionally, when actually my sister did more living in the actual five years of their life than the previous 32, and still made a decision that they couldn’t carry on living in this world.

“What they did for all of us in those last weeks, that has given me the strength every day and my responsibility now is to carry that legacy because nothing is hard compared to what my sister went through.”

Ore added that nobody knows when their time on earth will end and it has made him sit up and make the most of any time he has left.

“I can’t say enough when you have been through something that puts life into perspective – your whole outlook changes,” he added.

The broadcast won the Glitter Ball Trophy alongside Joanne Clifton in 2016. Since his victory, he has become a household name. It has helped launch an impressive career in TV and radio presenting.

He has also turned to acting and West End performances. Earlier this year, Ore played the part of Caractacus Potts in the UK tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. And he is also starring in the world premiere tour of Picture You Dead.

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In the production, he is portraying the part of eccentric art collector Stuart Piper. His character becomes entangled in a web of stolen art, gripping the audience.

*If you’re struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch