Furious Rangers supporters attempted to barricade the team bus at the Falkirk Stadium today while embattled manager Russell Martin needed a police escort to make his way from the ground.
Martin left the Falkirk Stadium by a side door, flanked by police and security guards, as fans’ anger over his stewardship of the Ibrox club reached worrying new levels.
A 1-1 draw at the home of the Premiership new boys led to fresh calls for the manager’s head, with some supporters then trying to take matters into their own hands.
Many gathered outside the ground at time-up and attempted to prevent the team bus from leaving, forcing Rangers’ players to remain inside the stadium tunnel.
After a sit-down protest, police dispersed the angry crowd with batons drawn to prevent some individuals from getting close to the bus.
Martin didn’t join his players on the bus and was instead escorted out of an alternative exit by security to a waiting car. Police on horseback then helped to clear a path towards the car park exit as fans shouted at the manager while he was driven away.
Rangers fans block the team bus with a sitdown protest after their team’s 1-1 draw at Falkirk
Boss Russell Martin left the stadium by a side door and had to be escorted to a waiting car
Falkirk boss John McGlynn said it was his team’s best performance of the season so far
TV presenter Eilidh Barbour told Sky Sports: ‘We have a situation here at the stadium where the Rangers bus is trying to get out, but it has been blocked in by supporters.
‘The players are still inside the tunnel, they have not been able to get on to the bus and it has had to come in a different way to try and get the players on to the bus and disperse the fans.’
The 1-1 draw with the Bairns means the Ibrox side have won just one of seven league matches this season and now go into the second international break in eighth place in the Premiership, 11 points behind leaders Hearts.
Martin was again barracked by his own supporters throughout the match, with the fanbase again turning on him seconds after Bojan Miovski had handed the visitors a half-time lead.
Falkirk deservedly took a point thanks to substitute Henry Cartwright’s second-half strike.
In previous weeks, Martin has been quick to question his players’ mentality, but changed tack after this latest setback to shoulder responsibility.
Asked if he was getting enough from his players at this moment, he replied: ‘They’re giving us everything they’ve got. I think they’re really, really trying.
‘So, I have to take responsibility for it, not them. There’s been some really honest discussion with them in the dressing room, some frustration with them and each other.
‘But ultimately I’m the one in charge of the team, so I have to accept responsibility. We haven’t had enough wins on days like today, so it’s been a frustrating period.’
Asked if he accepted that the backing of his employers could only last so long if the poor results continue, he added: ‘Yeah, I think it’s the same everywhere. Just this club is intensified and the scrutiny is much higher, the noise is much louder.
‘So, every draw we’ve had has felt like a defeat because of the stature of this club and what it means and what we have to try and fight for.
‘I can’t answer your question really. You’d have to ask the people above me. I feel that the players and the staff are really, really behind me. I felt really supported by everyone else above me as well, and I can’t dictate whether that changes or not. So, that’s out of control for me. I have to just try and focus on winning football matches.’
Martin has only won five out of 17 competitive games but again insisted he can turn the situation around.
‘I believe I can,’ he continued. ‘I see every day with the players, how invested they are in it, how hard they run. I know they’re really trying, really, really trying. And the staff have been amazing.
‘I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. I knew it probably wasn’t going to be quick, but we’re a club at which patience is not a word that is used.
‘I’ve believed that at every club I’ve been at, and it’s led me to here now. But I have to accept responsibility and we have to try and learn and really grow through these moments and understand why.’
Asked if he expected fresh talks with chairman Andrew Cavenagh, he replied: ‘Not that I know of. We talk after every game, so I expect to have a chat with them. But out of the ordinary, no, not at the moment.’
Martin shrugged off the ongoing calls for his head from the visiting supporters.
‘I’ve got pretty used to it over the last few weeks,’ he said. ‘So, it’s certainly character building.’
Despite not getting the win that he felt his side deserved, Falkirk boss John McGlynn insisted the display was their best of the season.
‘Did we deserve to win? Maybe overall,’ he said.
‘We started the game on fire, our two wingers were great and we were on the front foot.
‘We were on the ascendancy and kept it going for half an hour. We just didn’t have anything to show for it in terms of goals.
‘That was the only thing that was missing.
‘Rangers came into the game before half-time and we gave them encouragement.
‘They scored a good goal, it was well taken.
‘We were disappointed to be a goal down at half-time but we’ve been there before and rallied to come back.
‘We started the second half well and got in behind them.
‘Then Henry goes on – which was a great substitution – and gets the goal.
‘Maybe we should have taken all three points.
‘I think that would be our best performance of the season so far.’
