Following Saturday’s home defeat to Hearts at Ibrox, Rangers have slumped to their worst league start in almost half a century. Five matches, zero wins, four points. Pressure on Russell Martin has gone from heavy to intolerable.
Not since 1978 have Rangers stumbled out of the blocks so badly, when another former player, John Greig, took his first steps into management.
The context then was dramatically different. Greig, the “greatest ever Ranger,” had been handed the reins in the summer of ’78 after the shock departure of Jock Wallace to Leicester City. Wallace had just delivered a domestic treble, leaving Greig to inherit a side still basking in success.
Yet the transition proved brutal: no wins from the opening six league matches, just three points to show for it, and title hopes seemingly gone before September was out.
But even in that nightmare start, Greig carried goodwill. Supporters recognised his legendary status, his bond with the club, and his willingness to learn. The structure of Scottish football also softened the blow, two points for a win meant gaps at the top could be bridged more quickly.
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Martin, by contrast, has none of that goodwill. He is remembered by many only as part of the defence that capitulated to Celtic in 2018, conceding nine goals across two matches. Far from being seen as a custodian of the club’s traditions, he is already viewed as an outsider squandering time, money and patience.
The contrast in resources is damning. Greig entered the dugout with little to spend, his most notable addition being teenager Billy Urquhart from then-Highland League Inverness.
Martin, by comparison, has been backed lavishly, more than £30 million invested this summer, an apparent net spend of around £20 million, and yet his squad looks worse.
Players decline under his watch, systems falter, and despite outspending the rest of the Premiership combined, Rangers languish in tenth. By the time they next play a league match, they could even be bottom.
Greig’s maiden season did not bring the title, but it did bring silverware: both the League Cup and Scottish Cup found their way to Ibrox. More importantly, Greig’s standing ensured he retained the trust of the fans.
He knew the heartbeat of the club. Martin, on the other hand, appears detached, dismissive even. His public demeanour gives the impression of a man immune to criticism, when in truth he is drowning in it.
This weekend’s Premier Sports Cup tie with Hibernian may delay the inevitable, but it hardly inspires confidence. Martin’s only domestic win so far came in this same competition, an uninspiring 4–2 against League One Alloa Athletic. The idea that Rangers can mount a serious cup run under his leadership feels fanciful at best.
History shows that even from disaster, Rangers could rebuild. Celtic faltered in 1978/79, suffering their own unrest, and Greig managed to steady the ship enough to finish second.
There is little evidence to suggest Martin even has that resilience in him. The form just now is relegation form, but so are the performances. The trajectory looks terminal: stubborn tactics, players regressing, and a fanbase long past patience.
The lesson from 1978 is not that Rangers can afford to give a failing manager endless time. It is that even in periods of turbulence, leadership mattered, leadership Greig, despite his flaws, embodied. Martin does not. If Rangers are to salvage this season, the change must be made now. Delay risks turning a poor start into yet another lost year.