Russell Martin is in 'big trouble' at Rangers, admits Ally McCoist, after last night's damaging 1-0 home defeat to Genk.
Former Celtic striker Oh Hyeon-gyu beat the offside trap before thundering home into the bottom corner beyond Jack Butland midway through the second half to grab the winning goal for the Belgians in Glasgow.
That followed a dramatic ending to the first half that saw Rangers denied a penalty for handball, Mohamed Diomande being sent off for a high tackle, and Butland saving a spot kick from Oh to keep the score level heading into the break.
Boos were audible around the those who remained inside Ibrox at full time, with further chants of 'Martin, get to f***' as the former Scotland international promptly walked up the tunnel.
It had been hoped that Saturday's 2-0 League Cup victory over Hibernian would see Martin's Rangers side turn a corner. But Thursday night proved that is not quite the case, certainly for now.
And McCoist sided with supporters and their dismay at what has been a dismal start to the campaign.
"They're totally justified in their disappointment at what they're seeing," the 63-year-old said post-match on TNT Sports. "It clearly hasn't been good enough.
"You can point to the red card but it goes deeper than that, the level of performance hasn't been good enough.
"Coming into the stadium tonight, you could have blown me away. It was nothing like a normal atmosphere of any game, never mind a European game at Ibrox.
"There was apathy, there was no life about the place, on or off the pitch, which is really concerning.
"The manager is in trouble, he's in big trouble. Something has to change dramatically. And on the current evidence, sadly, I can't see it happening."
Read more:
- Russell Martin issues Rangers verdict on penalty appeal & Diomande red card
- Butland makes Rangers performance admission, braced for Ibrox fall-out
Meanwhile, over on Sky Sports' coverage from their Glasgow base, Kris Boyd insisted that the club's American ownership have no other option other than to start looking for Martin's potential successor now.
He commented: "Looking at it right now, there is no other option than to start looking. Not only for a new manager, but the recruitment needs an overhaul.
"Russell Martin will be the one that ends up paying the price. But there's other people at the club who need to be held accountable as well.
"Because right now, the disconnect from the stands onto the pitch and beyond, is as bad as I've ever seen."
