Russell Martin has emphasised that he retains the full support of the Rangers hierarchy as he prepares to strength his squad further with the deadline day capture of Youssef Chermiti from Everton for £8m.
Martin, who was targeted by the Ibrox club’s supporters during and after their 6-0 mauling by Club Brugge in Belgium on Wednesday night, was booed as he headed up the tunnel following his side’s 0-0 draw with Celtic in Govan yesterday.
However, the former Scotland internationalist has insisted that majority shareholders Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers Enterprises remain firmly behind him despite the difficult start to the 2025/26 campaign.
Chairman Cavenagh and vice-chairman Parag Marathe met with players and staff at Auchenhowie on Saturday and emphasised they were standing by the ex-MK Dons, Swansea City and Southampton manager.
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The fact that Portuguese forward Chermiti is poised to join Bojan Miovski, who arrived from Girona in a £4.2m deal on Saturday, in his squad before the transfer window closes at 11pm tomorrow night shows they are prepared to back him regardless of the humiliating Champions League exit.
“I haven’t felt one change in the owners’ attitude towards me,” said Martin. “If anything I’ve felt more support than ever in the last week from Kevin [sporting director Thelwell], Patrick [chief executive Stewart], the owners.
“Andrew spoke amazingly well to the players and staff on Saturday on the plan we embarked on just 90 days or so ago. They felt it was the right plan now and they still do. He doesn’t want to get caught up in the hysteria of what goes out and goes with being at this club.
“The pain threshold has been reached time and time again at this club by the supporters. There’s usually a change, but nothing has really changed. So I feel really supported by the owners.
“The players and staff needed to hear that on Saturday. There was a lightness in them after that. Today they showed how hard they want to run for us, the staff, the supporters and the owners. They feel supported and there’s a plan in place. They understand it.”
“Until we win football matches there will still be noise. By the way, there was noise the first day I was appointed so it’s not a new thing. It’s a reaction to games, the media have to get clicks.
“My job is to win games, the media’s job is to create mis-communication between people. The noise gets louder, but it doesn’t change one thing we do inside the building.
“I’ve had it before as a player and manager already. The only way to change the noise is to win matches. Every decision I make is not for me or an individual player. It’s for the team and the club, which I think is best.
“Stuff has happened inside the building which I don’t think is best for the club, whether that’s culturally or performance wise. We’re trying to bring some of that which will hopefully help us long term as a club, a team and a group.
“That will help the players do great things on the pitch. If we win football matches, everyone will be happy. Hopefully people felt better about the team today than they did in midweek, I certainly do. Now we have to work hard and come back with that same level of desire and intensity.”
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Martin brushed off questions about Nicolas Raskin, who was left out of his squad following an alleged fallout, after the Rangers fans chanted the midfielder’s name during the Celtic match. But the Belgian midfielder looks set to depart today.
“I didn’t hear that,” he said. “I just want to focus my energy on the squad today who I’m proud of. It’s not about me, Nico or any individual. I just want to talk about the group who were brilliant today.
“I’m not going to talk about individuals. The squad we picked today was one we knew would run for each other. They were all in and we felt that. I don't know what's going to happen over the next 24 hours with the rest of our guys. I just want to focus on the team.
“I hope they saw that the players were running for them, for each other, for the coaching staff, fighting for everything. But I can't control that [what people think of him]. So I'll just control the work we do.
“I feel well supported by the ownership group and everyone at the club. I feel like they so want this to work and succeed and over time. We need to win football matches for everyone outside of the club to feel the same way. We need to build on this."
"We're close to a couple [of new players],” he said. "I also think Cyriel has probably played his last game for the club. He's been great the whole time he's been here so he goes with everyone's best wishes.
"It's good business for us and for him, with the stage he's at in his career. Things can change, but it looks likely and we'll have two new guys in the building so let's see what happens outside of that."
