Russell Martin’s turbulent tenure as Rangers head coach has come to a dramatic end after just 123 days, capping one of the most tumultuous spells in the club’s storied history. The 39-year-old manager was dismissed late on Sunday night, October 5, 2025, following a deeply disappointing run that saw the team languishing in eighth place in the William Hill Premiership and igniting fierce protests among the Ibrox faithful.
The final straw came after a 1-1 draw against newly-promoted Falkirk at Falkirk Stadium, a result that left Rangers 11 points adrift of league leaders Hearts. The aftermath was chaotic: angry supporters blocked the team bus with a sit-down protest, forcing Martin to be escorted out of the stadium by police and security staff. Mounted police cleared a path for his departure, a stark symbol of the frustration and unrest that had been simmering for weeks.
Rangers’ official statement, released shortly after the incident, was succinct but telling: “Rangers Football Club confirms that it has parted company with head coach Russell Martin. While all transition periods require some time, results have not met the club’s expectations. Assistant head coach Matt Gill and first-team coach Mike Williamson will also be departing. Russell and his staff have worked exceptionally hard throughout their time at the club. We thank them for their efforts and wish them well.”
Martin’s spell at Ibrox was, by every metric, a disastrous one. Appointed in June 2025 after Philippe Clement’s sacking and a lengthy recruitment process, Martin arrived with the hope of steadying the ship under a new American-led ownership consortium, including 49ers Enterprises. Instead, he presided over just one league victory in seven matches and five wins in 17 games overall. The club’s early season collapse included back-to-back defeats in the Europa League and a failure to qualify for the Champions League, further deepening the gloom around Govan.
“They’re giving us everything they’ve got. I think they’re really trying. So I have to take responsibility for it, not them,” Martin admitted after the Falkirk draw, accepting the brunt of the blame. “There’s been some really honest discussions with them in the dressing room, some frustration with them and each other, but ultimately I’m the one in charge of the team, so I have to accept responsibility.”
Fan anger had been building for weeks, with many supporters calling for Martin’s dismissal after embarrassing defeats to Club Brugge and Hearts. The tipping point, however, was reached at Falkirk, where the Rangers support’s patience finally snapped. According to Sky Sports presenter Eilidh Barbour, “We have a situation here at the stadium where the Rangers bus is trying to get out, but it has been blocked in by supporters. The players are still inside the tunnel, they have not been able to get on to the bus and it has had to come in a different way to try and get the players on to the bus and disperse the fans.”
Inside the stadium, the mood was no less tense. Falkirk boss John McGlynn, whose side staged a spirited performance, remarked, “Did we deserve to win? Maybe overall. We started the game on fire, our two wingers were great and we were on the front foot. We just didn’t have anything to show for it in terms of goals. That was the only thing that was missing. Rangers came into the game before half-time and we gave them encouragement. They scored a good goal, it was well taken. We were disappointed to be a goal down at half-time but we’ve been there before and rallied to come back. We started the second half well and got in behind them. Then Henry goes on — which was a great substitution — and gets the goal. Maybe we should have taken all three points. I think that would be our best performance of the season so far.”
Despite the league woes, Martin does leave Rangers with a glimmer of hope: the club remains in the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals, with a high-stakes Hampden derby against Celtic looming on November 2. But for many, this silver lining does little to mask the sense of missed opportunity and organizational upheaval that has defined the last four months.
The search for Martin’s successor is already underway, with Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard and German coach Danny Rohl emerging as the early favorites. Gerrard, who previously led Rangers to their first league title in a decade during his last spell at Ibrox, is reportedly in line for a sensational return. The pressure is on for Rangers’ hierarchy—now led by chairman Andrew Cavenagh, chief executive Patrick Stewart, and sporting director Kevin Thelwell—to make the right appointment and arrest the club’s slide.
Martin’s short reign will be remembered for its chaotic end as much as its poor results. The scenes at Falkirk Stadium, with supporters forming a human blockade and police intervention required, are likely to linger in the collective memory of the Rangers fanbase for years to come. The episode also raises broader questions about the club’s direction under its new ownership and the challenges of managing expectations at a club where patience is always in short supply.
For the players, the next few weeks will be crucial. With interim arrangements expected until a new head coach is appointed, the squad will need to regroup quickly if they are to salvage anything from a season that has already veered dangerously off course. The upcoming cup semi-final against Celtic now takes on added significance—not just as a shot at silverware, but as a potential turning point for a club desperate to restore pride and stability.
As the dust settles, Rangers supporters will be watching closely for signs of renewal. The abrupt end to Russell Martin’s reign is a stark reminder of the unforgiving nature of football management, especially at a club with the weight of history and expectation that comes with wearing the blue of Rangers. With the managerial search underway and the squad in need of a lift, the next chapter at Ibrox is set to be every bit as dramatic as the last.
For now, the focus shifts to the future—one that, after a nightmarish autumn, holds both uncertainty and the faint promise of a fresh start.
