MusaRussell Martin is on the brink of being dismissed as Rangers manager after a dismal 2-0 home defeat to Hearts saw the club fall to 10th in the Scottish Premiership.
A brace from Lawrence Shankland sealed Hearts’ first victory at Ibrox since 2014, leaving home fans furious. With a League Cup match against Hibernian next on the schedule, Martin may not be in charge for the fixture.
As performances continue to decline under his leadership, the pressure is mounting. talkSPORT host Max Scott delivered a scathing assessment of Martin’s tactics, stating: “What he’s trying to implement at Rangers isn’t working. You’ve got to show some adaptability. I get the feeling that Martin is cut from this cloth of managers that are average impostors of Pep Guardiola.”
Scott added that it’s “self-sabotage” to persist with such a rigid style, arguing that Rangers were “convinced by an articulate, well-spoken man who hasn’t got another weapon.”
Martin’s possession-heavy approach was brutally exposed by Hearts, who scored two goals from just 34% possession. The visitors recorded 12 shots, three big chances, and 23 touches in Rangers’ box — illustrating how vulnerable Martin’s system was to counter-attacks.
Club legend Ally McCoist also criticised the team’s lethargy and lack of cutting edge in the final third.
Further compounding Martin’s problems is his ongoing exclusion of Nico Raskin, last season’s Player of the Year. Instead, Mohamed Diomande — whose poor performance included conceding a penalty — continues to play, raising questions about Martin’s squad management.
With results deteriorating and key players sidelined, Martin’s tenure appears increasingly untenable. It seems only a matter of time before the club makes a change.
Musa
