Rangers manager Russell Martin faces an organised fan revolt just 77 days into his tenure following a catastrophic 3-1 Champions League defeat to Club Brugge at Ibrox. A disgruntled supporter has launched a GoFundMe campaign demanding Martin's removal after the humiliating first-leg loss.
Club Brugge scored three goals in the opening 20 minutes, triggering a mass exodus of Rangers fans who booed as they walked out. Amazon Prime commentator Jon Champion and former Rangers coach Neil McCann captured the dramatic scenes as supporters abandoned their seats.
Fan campaign emerges
Kevin Muscat created the crowdfunding page titled "Get Russell Martin TF Out of Rangers" with scathing criticism of the manager's approach. Muscat wrote: "He's not building a team he's dismantling a football club. Keeping him is footballing suicide."
The fundraising page sarcastically suggests providing Martin with a one-way ferry ticket to "anywhere that isn't Glasgow" and a bin bag to collect what's left of his "ideas". Muscat claims a hazmat crew is needed "to scrub Ibrox clean of his sideways football virus".
Social media backlash
The criticism extends beyond individual supporters, with the Rangers 'til I die Facebook page declaring decisive action needed. The post reads: "If our new owners are serious about taking us forward, they sack Russell Martin. It would be a real show of leadership to admit this was a mistake and start looking again."
Muscat boldly predicts that if Martin remains in charge, "Rangers will never win a trophy again". The fan described Martin as "Caixinha without the comedy value, Gerrard without the glory, and McInnes without the self-awareness to say no".
Structural problems revealed
Only the Daily Record reports that three of Rangers' back four are loan signings, including £10 million summer acquisition Nasser Djiga. Brandon Mechele scored Club Brugge's third goal on his 500th appearance for the Belgian club, according to Daily Record coverage.
Rangers legend Ally McCoist delivered a damning assessment of the defensive performance that allowed the early goals. McCoist said: "It got to the stage I couldn't believe what I was seeing, I mean the first half defensively, jeez."
Manager remains defiant
Danilo scored early in the second half to provide brief hope for the home side. However, Rangers suffered another blow when their second goal was disallowed with 12 minutes remaining following a foul on goalkeeper Mignolet.
Despite the overwhelming criticism and fan revolt, Martin remains confident about the club's Champions League prospects. He said: "That's as hard as it will ever be for the players on the pitch. I'm proud of how they responded."
The second leg takes place in Belgium next Wednesday, August 27, with an 8pm GMT kick-off. Rangers must overturn a two-goal deficit to progress to the Champions League group stage.
Sources used: "Glasgow Live", "Daily Record" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
