Rangers Board Backs Manager Martin Amid Fan Pressure Ahead Celtic Derby

Rangers manager Russell Martin faces intense pressure following a humiliating 9-1 aggregate defeat to Club Brugge in the Champions League play-offs and a poor start to the Scottish Premiership with three draws. Despite widespread fan criticism and calls for his dismissal, Martin maintains he has the board's backing and believes the team can improve, urging players to take more accountability for their performances. Former Celtic manager Tony Mowbray sympathizes with Martin's situation, emphasizing the immense pressure on Old Firm managers and hoping Martin can turn things around for the benefit of Scottish football. However, critics highlight that Martin's new signings, including Nasser Djiga and Max Aarons, have underperformed significantly, contributing to the team's struggles. The Rangers board, led by chairman Andrew Cavenagh and vice-chairman Paraag Marathe, appear unwilling to make an immediate managerial change despite fan unrest, opting instead to allow Martin more time to rebuild the squad. The upcoming Old Firm derby against Celtic represents a crucial test for Martin's leadership and the team's resilience after recent setbacks.