Rangers sack Martin after torrid 5-month spell
Rangers Football Club has announced the dismissal of manager Russell Martin, ending his tenure after just five months at the helm. Martin, who joined the Scottish Premiership side in May 2025 following his departure from Southampton, leaves after overseeing a period marked by poor results both domestically and in Europe.
The club confirmed the decision on Monday, citing unsatisfactory on-field performances that failed to meet Rangers’ standards. Alongside Martin, assistant head coach Matt Gill and first-team coach Mike Williamson will also depart. No immediate successor has been named.
Under Martin’s management, Rangers registered only one league victory—a dramatic late winner against Livingston—and struggled in European competition, most notably suffering a 9-1 aggregate defeat to Club Brugge in Champions League qualifying. Despite a League Cup win over Hibernian offering a brief respite, subsequent poor results including a home defeat to Hearts and disappointing Europa League losses to Racing Genk and SK Sturm Graz intensified pressure on the 39-year-old Englishman.
Tensions peaked following a 1-1 draw with newly promoted Falkirk, after which fans expressed their frustration by attempting to block the team bus. Martin publicly accepted full responsibility for the team’s failures. Security footage showed him escorted from the stadium by staff amid unrest in the stands.
Rangers’ statement acknowledged the challenges of transitional periods but emphasized that results must improve. The club thanked Martin and his staff for their efforts and indicated that updates regarding the managerial position would follow.
Russell Martin’s departure closes a difficult chapter for Rangers, who had hoped the former MK Dons, Swansea City, and Southampton coach could bring renewed stability and tactical clarity to the squad. The club now faces a critical phase in its campaign, seeking a new leader capable of restoring competitive momentum and delivering on season objectives.