The 38-year-old departs Ibrox after just 123 days in charge, making him the club’s shortest-serving permanent manager in modern history. The decision comes in the wake of Saturday’s 1–1 draw against Falkirk, which extended Rangers’ winless run to five matches across all competitions.
In an official statement, the club also announced that Assistant Head Coach Matt Gill and First-Team Coach Mike Williamson have left their positions. The Ibrox board thanked the trio for their efforts but admitted that “results have not met the club’s expectations.”
Martin, who joined Rangers in June after a promising spell at Southampton, never managed to gain momentum in Glasgow. His side managed just one league victory in seven games, and European hopes were dented by damaging defeats in the Europa League group stage.
The pressure intensified following the stalemate at Falkirk, where frustrated supporters confronted the team bus and called for immediate changes. Sources close to the club revealed that Martin had to leave the stadium under police escort as tensions boiled over.
Rangers are now beginning the search for a new manager, with Steven Gerrard — who famously led the club to the 2020–21 Premiership title — emerging as an early favourite to make a sensational return to Ibrox.
In the meantime, an interim management team is expected to take charge of first-team duties ahead of next weekend’s fixture.
A club insider told reporters:
“This decision was not taken lightly, but the board felt it was necessary to act in the best interests of Rangers Football Club. We thank Russell and his staff for their hard work and wish them well for the future.”
Rangers now face a pivotal few weeks both on and off the pitch as they look to stabilise their season and restore faith among a frustrated fanbase.
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