Glasgow, Scotland – Russell Martin’s post-match words were supposed to reassure the Rangers faithful, but instead, they have ignited fresh debate and anger across the blue half of Glasgow. After a 2-0 Premier Sports Cup quarter-final victory over Hibernian, the Rangers head coach faced reporters and delivered what has now become his trademark explanation:
“We played well, we were just unlucky. The fans need to be patient. The players didn’t execute my plan. And we are building for the future.”
For some managers, such words might have been seen as a rallying cry. For Martin, they were perceived as deflection, denial, and even disrespect. Saturday was no ordinary matchday. It was a day that began with outright rebellion against the club’s direction and ended with a victory that did little to silence the critics.
Protests Outside Ibrox: “Russell Out”
Hours before kickoff, Ibrox became the epicentre of a growing storm. Fans gathered in numbers, their frustrations boiling over after weeks of inconsistent performances and uninspiring football. Homemade banners scrawled with messages such as “Russell Out – Worst Manager in History” and “Bring Back Our Rangers” were held high in defiance.
Posters with Martin’s face — and that of chief executive Patrick Stewart — were plastered on walls and lamp posts, calling for change at the top. Supporters’ groups had been vocal all week, using social media to organize protests and make their feelings known.
When the players walked out for warm-ups, they were greeted not by cheers, but by a chorus of boos and chants aimed squarely at the dugout. Moments later, match balls were deliberately hurled onto the pitch, forcing a stoppage and delaying kickoff.
This was no ordinary act of frustration — this was a coordinated statement. The fans were no longer content to simply grumble on message boards or phone-ins. They wanted their club back, and they wanted answers.
A Victory That Felt Hollow
On paper, a 2-0 win over Hibernian should have been cause for celebration. Rangers controlled much of the match, scored two well-worked goals, and advanced to the semi-finals of the Premier Sports Cup.
But the atmosphere inside Ibrox was strangely muted. More than 15,000 seats sat empty, a stark reminder of the growing disconnect between the team and its supporters. Even when the second goal went in, one group of fans unfurled a massive banner reading:
“Winning Today Doesn’t Change Anything – We See Through This.”
That moment captured the mood perfectly. This was not a fan base soothed by a single win. This was a fan base demanding a change in direction — or perhaps a change of leadership.
Martin’s Words Fail to Convince
Then came Russell Martin’s post-match comments — comments that many fans felt only deepened the divide.
“We played well, we were just unlucky.”
For supporters who have watched Rangers falter in big games, ship soft goals, and look tactically disjointed, hearing that the team is merely “unlucky” felt like an insult.
“The fans need to be patient.”
Patience, they argue, has already been stretched to breaking point. This is a club with ambitions of challenging Celtic for the title and competing respectably in Europe — not one willing to accept mediocrity in the name of a long-term project.
“The players didn’t execute my plan.”
For some, this sounded like throwing the squad under the bus. Fans see it differently: if players are consistently failing to follow instructions, maybe the instructions are wrong — or the message is no longer being heard.
“We are building for the future.”
That line may have been the most polarizing of all. Supporters want to see a future worth building toward, but they also want results right now. Building for tomorrow is no excuse for falling behind today.
Pressure from All Sides
Russell Martin is now in the unenviable position of being caught between a furious fan base, skeptical players, and a boardroom under siege. Chief executive Patrick Stewart has publicly backed his manager in recent weeks, but there are reports that sections of the board are starting to lose patience as well.
Football is a results business, and though Rangers did get a result against Hibernian, the performance was not enough to change the narrative. Each game now feels like a referendum on Martin’s future, with the crowd acting as judge, jury, and executioner.
Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd did not mince his words on Sky Sports after the match:
“You can’t just keep saying the same things every week. The fans aren’t stupid — they see what’s happening on the pitch. Russell Martin has to find solutions, not excuses. The players need to be lifted, and right now they don’t look like a team ready to fight for a title.”
A Club at a Crossroads
Saturday’s events have made one thing clear: Rangers are at a crossroads. The protests, the empty seats, and the defiant banners are symptoms of a deeper malaise. Fans are not merely upset about a bad run of form — they are questioning the very direction of the club.
Martin’s job is to find a way to bring everyone back onside, and quickly. That means not just winning games, but winning them with conviction, with style, and with a plan supporters can believe in.
The next few fixtures could be season-defining. Drop points in the league, and the noise will grow deafening. Fail in Europe, and the pressure could become unbearable. Even victories will not be enough if they are narrow, nervy affairs that leave fans unconvinced.
What Happens Next
For now, Russell Martin remains in the dugout. The board will likely hold firm — at least until after the semi-final of the Premier Sports Cup — but make no mistake, the pressure is real and it is rising.
Rangers supporters are not willing to wait forever. They want their club back competing at the highest level, and they will not hesitate to make their feelings known.
Saturday was a warning shot — a reminder that even a victory cannot paper over the cracks for long. If Russell Martin wants to survive, he must do more than win. He must inspire belief, ignite passion, and prove that his “plan for the future” is worth the pain of the present.
Because in Glasgow, as Martin is learning the hard way, patience is a luxury that no Rangers manager can afford for very long.
