Rangers fans now hate Russell Martin but he’s untouchable to the board | OneFootball

Russell Martin has come out of the Bruges humiliation insisting he remains safe in his job, even after Rangers’ record-breaking European collapse. The Ibrox manager knows he has the backing of Patrick Stewart and Kevin Thelwell, who are standing firm and giving him assurances despite a 9-1 aggregate demolition that stunned Europe. That safety from above makes him untouchable for now, but it comes with the risk of fans turning completely against him. Once the support in the stands is gone, even the strongest boardroom backing cannot save a manager.

The Scottish Sun reports Martin has apologised for the loss and stressed unity, while still insisting that Rangers bosses will not sack him. That blunt stance creates a huge gulf between the decision makers and the fanbase. Supporters watched their club suffer a 6-0 hammering in Bruges, one of the darkest nights in Rangers’ history, and now feel ignored when the man in charge is declared safe regardless of the disaster. Ibrox Noise have already highlighted Martin’s body language, showing the cracks in his confidence before a ball was even kicked.

The Times called the result historic and humiliating, laying the blame at Martin’s door. Decisions to leave out key players and a refusal to adapt during the tie show a manager who either misjudged everything or lacked the courage to change course. With that analysis echoing around the media, Rangers supporters have every reason to feel disillusioned. They see a manager protected by hierarchy but offering them no hope. Ibrox Noise also pointed to his Southampton baggage, which now feels all too relevant.

Bill Leckie went further, describing the Bruges collapse as “unsurvivable.” While the board may think otherwise, the reality is that managers live or die by the stands. Fans will not forgive such humiliation quickly, and unless Martin produces an astonishing turnaround, his position becomes weaker by the day. Being untouchable in the office is meaningless if every seat in Ibrox is filled with discontent. Ibrox Noise’s own statement underlines the split between boardroom loyalty and fan fury, a gap that grows wider after every failure.

Rangers now head into the Old Firm derby with a boss who claims safety yet stands on the edge of losing the crowd. Martin may feel secure tonight, but his long-term survival rests not with Stewart or Thelwell. It rests with the fans, and after Bruges, that bond may already be broken.