The Union Bears and Rangers Supporters Association have added to the pressure on Russell Martin by demanding that he is sacked after 13 matches in charge.
Even by their own standards Ibrox was utterly poisonous on Saturday as fans chanted for the sacking of the latest manager as they watched their side go nine points behind Hearts after just five matches.
‘Sacked In The Morning’ was the more polite of the chants, the other was far more direct telling Martin where to go. Wee Stevie from Four Lads Had A Team is given media access and repeated that phrase during his watch-along, afterwards he was involved in a very heated exchange with the hipster former Southampton manager.
MARTIN HAS NO FRIENDS
Pointedly Martin replied that many of the fans were against him from the day that he was appointed, he isn’t going to be swayed or influenced by the cavemen and dinosaurs that use Ibrox as their outlet for their warped views on life.
Uniquely for an Ibrox manager he has no friends in the media, instead he has been hit with out and out hostility with friends of Barry Ferguson, Billy Dodds and Neil McCann involved at every media outlet in the country.
All of those issues have created a perfect storm for the club’s first ever vegan, Buddhist manager.
Saturday’s defeat from Hearts has kicked off an incredible chain of events with fan groups reaching for their statement templates as they plead with the club to get Martin out regardless of who is brought in to take his place.
Neil McCann has been on standby since the SPFL opener at Motherwell, after that match Martin questioned the mentality of the players, on Saturday after losing to Hearts he admitted that the players are scared to play at Ibrox.
— rikki (@rikkitwit) September 16, 2025
On Sunday morning the leading messengers were informed that the American owners won’t be complying with the request to Sack him in the Morning.
Under previous owners Martin would have been paid off on Saturday night. Giovanni van Bronckhorst was sacked for being nine points behind Celtic in November 2022, it was a seven point that proved the tipping point for Micky Beale in September 2023.
THE ABSENTEE LANDLORD
Andrew Cavenagh is almost as detached as it is possible to be from the angry bears, he might be aware of the statements but trusts the day to day running of the club to Paddy Stewart and Kev Thelwell.
On Saturday Cavenagh is expected to attend his third match as Chairman, after all the sugar coated fiction of his takeover he is about to discover what he has got involved in.
The actions of the Union Bears this year has resulted in two suspended sentences from UEFA, the actions that brought about those sanctions will look mild if Martin is still in place for Saturday’s League Cup tie at home to Hibs, with a 5.45 kick off the angry natives will be fully tanked up to express their feelings on their manager.
— Union Bears (@UnionBears_07) September 15, 2025
The media spotlight is all on Ibrox, on Martin and now the backing and support that he is getting from within the club.
Cavenagh addressed the players at Murray Park ahead of the 0-0 draw with Celtic, in reaction to the anger of fans Director of Football Thelwell claimed that Martin was the best coach that he had ever worked with.
At Everton Thelwell worked with Frank Lampard, Sean Dyche and Davie Moyes.
THE NEWS AGENDA
With round the clock podcasts and rolling sports news the problems are Ibrox are generating fresh headlines every day.
Former players and high profile pundits are constantly in demand for their views, McCann, Ferguson and Dodds have all avoided taking up jobs inside Ibrox since their short term contracts expired at the end of last season.
Taking the players wild swimming in freezing Loch Lomond was the latest action from Martin that has backfired.
With the supporters whipped up into a frenzy the build up to the match against Hibs is going to be incredible, if Martin’s team put in another horror performance live on Premier Sports the broadcaster could be witnessing some incredible scenes.
It is only a matter of time before the annual search for a new manager gets underway, with the next manager knowing exactly what a poisonous job they are walking into.
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