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Rangers sacked Russell Martin tonight as he finally paid the price for a woeful start to the new season.
Martin has been axed after just 17 games in charge, bringing to an end the most disastrous reign of any manager in Rangers’ history.
The beleaguered boss needed a police escort to make his way from the Falkirk Stadium after Rangers had toiled to a 1-1 draw against the newly-promoted Bairns.
Enraged by yet another dire performance from their team, some fans formed a human blockade in an attempt to stop the team bus leaving the car park and screamed at Martin as he was driven away in another vehicle.
It proved a bitter end to his Ibrox tenure for the 39-year-old, who won only one of his seven league matches in charge and leaves Rangers eighth in the Premiership table.
The decision to sack Martin was signed off by chairman Andrew Cavenagh, with official confirmation coming in a Rangers statement.
Russell Martin's sacking was announced in a statement after Rangers' 1-1 draw with Falkirk
Furious fans blocked the team bus with a sit-down protest after the draw with Falkirk
Falkirk boss John McGlynn said his team had produced their best performance of the season
It read: ‘Rangers Football Club confirms that it has parted company with head coach Russell Martin.
‘While all transition periods require some time, results have not met the club’s expectations.
‘Assistant head coach Matt Gill and first-team coach Mike Willamson will also be departing.
‘Russell and his staff have worked exceptionally hard throughout their time at the club. We thank them for their efforts and wish them well for the future.’
The unprecedented scenes at Falkirk saw Martin forced to leave the ground by a side door, flanked by police and security guards, as supporter anger over his management of the club reached worrying new levels.
Many fans gathered outside the ground at time-up and blocked the bus as it prepared to return to Glasgow, meaning Rangers’ players had to remain inside the stadium.
After a sit-down protest, police dispersed the angry crowd with their batons drawn to prevent some individuals from getting close to the vehicle.
Martin didn’t join his players and was instead escorted out of an alternative exit by security to a waiting car.
Police on horseback then helped clear a path towards the car park exit as fans shouted at the manager while he was driven away.
It was a nightmarish end to a reign which has infuriated supporters, with many feeling Martin should have been sacked after the shambolic defeats to Club Brugge and Hearts a few weeks ago.
Steven Gerrard and Danny Rohl, both of whom were in contention for the job in the summer prior to Martin’s appointment, are the two early front runners to replace him.
On the unedifying scenes at Falkirk Stadium, 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.’
Asked after the match if he was getting enough from his players at this moment, Martin 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.’
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 (Cartwright) 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.’
