By Rangers have dismissed their fourth manager in less than three years. Former Southampton boss Russell Martin won just one of his seven league matches in charge and lost both Europa League ties, though he did guide the team into the next round of the League Cup.
The decision came after a 1-1 draw against Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership, which left Rangers with just one win from their first seven league matches equalling the club’s worst ever start to a season. Following the game, tensions ran high as Rangers fans surrounded the team bus, forcing police to escort Russell Martin away from the stadium. The result left Rangers in eighth place, 11 points behind leaders Hearts and nine adrift of rivals Celtic.
Scottish Premiership 2025/26
| Pos. | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS | Form | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 |
Heart of Midlothian
|
7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 19 |
WDWWWW
|
| 2 |
 |
Celtic
|
7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 17 |
WWDWDW
|
| 3 |
 |
Kilmarnock
|
7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 10 |
DDDLWW
|
| 4 |
 |
Dundee United
|
7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 |
LWDWLD
|
| 5 |
 |
St. Mirren
|
7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | -1 | 9 |
DDDWWL
|
| 6 |
 |
Motherwell
|
7 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
DDDDWL
|
| 7 |
 |
Hibernian
|
7 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
DDDDDL
|
| 8 |
 |
Rangers
|
7 | 1 | 5 | 1 | -1 | 8 |
DDDLWD
|
| 9 |
 |
Livingston
|
8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -4 | 6 |
LLDLLD
|
| 10 |
 |
Falkirk
|
7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | -5 | 6 |
LWLDLD
|
| 11 |
 |
Dundee
|
8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -7 | 6 |
DLDWLL
|
| 12 |
 |
Aberdeen
|
7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -5 | 4 |
LLDLLW
|
In a club statement, Rangers said: “Rangers Football Club confirms that it has parted company with head coach Russell Martin. While all transition periods require some time, results have not met the club’s expectations.”
Rangers fans left a banner outside Ibrox after the 6-0 defeat away to Club Brugge, calling for Martin to leave
Assistant head coach Matt Gill and first-team coach Mike Williamson will also leave the club. “Russell and his staff have worked exceptionally hard during their time at Rangers,” the club statement continued. “We thank them for their efforts and wish them all the best for the future. Further updates will be provided in due course.”
Under Martin’s leadership, Rangers were knocked out of the Champions League after suffering a joint worst European defeat, a 6-0 thrashing away to Club Brugge in the play off round, losing 9-1 on aggregate. The Ibrox side then dropped into the Europa League, where they began with back-to-back losses against Genk and Sturm Graz.
Rangers fans protested against Martin before and during Rangers League Cup win over Hibs
Although Rangers progressed in the League Cup, setting up an Old Firm semi-final against Celtic, Martin managed just five wins from 17 matches in all competitions. That record makes him statistically the worst performing permanent manager in Rangers’ history, as well as the shortest serving, lasting only 123 days.
He is also the fourth manager to be dismissed by the club in less than three years. Rangers will return to action after the international break with a home match against Dundee United on October 18.
