Russell Martin insists he can cope with the increasingly hostile protests against him from Rangers supporters – and has welcomed the ‘amazing’ backing he continues to receive from chairman Andrew Cavenagh.
American businessman Cavenagh, leader of the 49ers Enterprises consortium who took control of Rangers in May, arrived in Glasgow late on Thursday night and met with under-fire manager Martin at Ibrox on Friday ahead of the club’s Premier Sports Cup quarter-final with Hibs on Saturday evening.
Fans group Union Bears are planning a demonstration outside the stadium before kick-off in which they will call for the removal of both Martin and chief executive Patrick Stewart.
It follows a calamitous start to the season which sees Rangers still waiting for a first league win under Martin and already nine points off the title pace after just five rounds of fixtures.
Martin, who was subjected to vitriolic abuse from the stands during last Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at home to Hearts, remains defiant in his belief he can turn things around. He dismissed the notion Cavenagh’s visit was prompted by any sense of a crisis at the club.
‘I knew he was coming a couple of weeks ago,’ said Martin. ‘He’s been great. Him, (vice-chairman) Paraag Marathe and all the guys have been amazing in their support for what we are doing.
The Rangers fans have made clear their feelings after a dreadful start to the season
Russell Martin watched his side lose 2-0 to Hearts last time out and now faces Hibs on Saturday
Martin was in upbeat mood ahead of the cup quarter-final but needs a positive result
‘The fans’ protests and stuff, I can’t control at all, so I don’t spend any time on it. I have to respect it and understand their frustration and annoyance. I feel every bit of it as well.
‘When you get to my age and experience, you can stand there and take pretty much anything, to be honest.
‘Sometimes, the more noise there is, the more opinion there is, it’s actually easier to ignore because it just becomes a big blur.
‘But I do think it’s an amazing opportunity for us as a team to come through this period, to grow through it and be so strong from it.
‘Hopefully, at that point everyone will come together. We just need to win football matches.
‘I can’t take the fans’ protests personally because I don’t know any of them and they don’t know me. They don’t know how hard we are working.
‘The people inside the building, I feel incredibly well supported – the players, the staff, ownership. As long as that continues, it will be fine.’
Martin, who is confident his players will benefit from a team-bonding exercise this week during which saw them swim at Loch Lomond and walk up Conic Hill, has recalled Nico Raskin to his squad after the Belgian midfielder was dropped for the previous two games against Celtic and Hearts.
Failure to overcome an in-form Hibs side could prove to be a tipping point for the manager and he accepts the importance of the match.
‘For us as a group, it’s really important,’ he said. ‘We’ve got a chance to get into the semi-final of a cup and achieving silverware which is what we are here for.
‘We want to put on a performance on the pitch we actually like, enjoy, wins us the game and something we can build from.
‘In terms of all the rest, I can’t answer how significant it is, because I can’t control it. All I want to see is a team which plays with the intensity and togetherness I see on the training pitch and also on the top of a hill after a long walk.’
