Rangers Sporting Director, Owners Back Struggling Manager Martin Amid Worst Start in 42 Years

Rangers manager Russell Martin faces significant pressure after a poor start to the season, including just three wins from 11 games, failure to win any Premiership matches, and a heavy 9-1 aggregate defeat to Club Brugge in the Champions League play-off. Despite these setbacks, sporting director Kevin Thelwell has expressed strong confidence in Martin's abilities and work ethic, describing him as one of the best coaches he has worked with and expecting his hard work to soon reflect positively on the pitch. Martin also emphasized that he has "more support than ever" from the Rangers board and the new US-based owners, who remain committed to the club's long-term plan despite recent results. Fan protests against Martin have been minimal at matches, and the club continues to back him, investing heavily in new players to improve the squad. However, Rangers currently sit in a historically low league position, seventh after four matches, highlighting the challenges Martin faces in turning the team's fortunes around. The overall sentiment among club officials is one of cautious optimism, acknowledging the need for patience amid extensive changes at the club.