Russell Martin sack verdict: Rangers “investigation” in order after “humiliating” and “painful” Champions League exit

Russell Martin was left “embarrassed” on "probably the toughest night" of his career after his Rangers side suffered a "humiliating” and “painful" defeat at the hands of Club Brugge in the Champions League playoffs.

Rangers conceded five first-half goals and had Max Aarons sent off inside the opening 10 minutes en route to a humbling 6-0 second-leg defeat in Belgium on Wednesday night, and a 9-1 aggregate demolition.

The crushing margin of defeat matches Rangers' 6-0 loss to Real Madrid back in 1963 and the 7-1 loss to Liverpool in 2022, while the defeat over two legs represents the joint-third biggest margin in Champions League history.

Martin, who was appointed Rangers boss in June, has now won just three of his opening 10 games (D4 L3) in charge of the Scottish giants and he issued an apology to the club’s supporters after the match.

The grim result in Belgium has amplified the scrutiny the 39-year-old is receiving from Rangers fans, but Martin has no immediate concerns about his future at Ibrox.

"To the fans, I have nothing but an apology," Martin told reporters. "I'm very sorry they had to witness that.

"It's humiliating and it's painful. There's disappointment and hurt that they've had to go through that.

"I don't think I've learnt anything new tonight, I'm just embarrassed by the defeat. It's probably the toughest night I've had as a head coach.

"It doesn't change the fact I think we will progress, move forward and grow."

Martin expects to remain in charge for Old Firm clash

While many Rangers fans have already lost patience with Martin, he believes that the club’s hierarchy understand “this might take time" and he has no fears of losing his job before Sunday’s Old Firm clash with Celtic.

"(CEO) Patrick [Stewart] and (sporting director) Kevin [Thelwell], I've had a chat with them already, they're amazingly supportive. They knew this would take time, they understand the club's position," Martin added.

"The manner of defeat tonight is not acceptable and hurtful, but I have no other choice but to keep working and keep focused.

"The weight is heavy on the group and we need to take that off them and move forward. I need to take everything that is thrown at me and so do the players. But it's my responsibility to accept all of it. It won't affect the work we do moving forward.

"I don't think we need to win on Sunday to secure my job, we need to win to make ourselves feel better and make the fans feel better, and to give them a performance they can be proud of."

Rangers defeat to Brugge “bad enough” for Martin to lose his job, says Boyd

However, former Rangers and Scotland striker Kris Boyd feels that the fans’ frustrations are justified and he ‘struggles to see a way back’ for Martin after a “worrying” start to life in the Ibrox hotseat.

"There will be an investigation into this. So bad, so, so bad. It looks like a group that has absolutely chucked it,” Boyd told Sky Sports. "Inside just weeks of a new manager coming in, it's worrying.

"I know a few people said - myself included - that Russell Martin wouldn't lose his job off the back of a Champions League defeat. Because there's no disgrace in losing to Club Brugge. But the way Rangers have lost - there will be a lot of Rangers fans wanting Russell Martin removed.

"I don't disagree [that he needs more time]. That's football - but it's totally different in Glasgow. If you're losing 9-1 to a team in the Champions League, it's bad enough.

Boyd: “I will struggle to see a way back for Martin after this”

"You can say you're going to be given time - with new owners coming in that's what they will look to do. But you have to see signs of improvement and that's not been the case.

"The reality is: you have two huge football clubs domestically, but when they go to Europe, they are shown up for what they are. Both are obsessed with winning domestically.

"Celtic had more success than Rangers in recent times. but Celtic have their own issues - their fans are not happy with the board not spending money.

"But domestically they will be fine. You wouldn't rule out Celtic winning another treble with the way this Rangers team are. Rangers will be hoping another team - Hibernian, Hearts or Aberdeen - putting up a fight to stop Celtic winning a cup, because Rangers are not going to do anything the way things are now.

"It is getting worse. That is really impossible to happen inside six or seven weeks into a new season, but Rangers have found a way.

"You speak about performances that could get managers the sack - this is heading in that direction. I will struggle to see a way back for Russell Martin after this."

Defeat to Club Brugge in the Champions League has seen Rangers drop down into the Europa League, with the League Phase draw taking place on Friday.