Rangers confirm departure of former MK Dons boss Russell Martin

Rangers have confirmed that they have parted company with their Head Coach and former MK Dons boss Russell Martin after 17 games.

Martin has been sacked after struggling to make an impact with the Glasgow-based club, with Rangers winning just one Scottish Premiership match, getting knocked out of the Champions League in the playoffs and starting their Europa League campaign with 2 defeats from 2.

The former Swansea and Southampton boss had signed a 3 year deal at Ibrox in the summer when appointed in June, but his departure was confirmed tonight (05/10) after Rangers dropped points in their latest draw.

Martin’s final game saw the Glaswegians draw 1-1 at Falkirk. The draw was Rangers’ 5th in 7 top flight games so far this season, with the club entering the upcoming October international break in 8th place in the table.

The draw at Falkirk ended with Martin being escorted from the stadium by police, with some Rangers fans attempting to barricade the team at the ground after their latest draw. Protests and calls from fans for his departure had been regularly heard in recent matches.

Rangers confirmed in a brief statement the departure of Martin, along with that of his former Dons’ coach Matt Gill and of fellow former Dons Head Coach Mike Williamson, who had been part of Martin’s coaching staff at Ibrox.

The club said, “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 Williamson, 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.

“Further updates from the club will follow in due course.”

Martin was appointed in November 2019 at MK Dons for his first managerial role as a successor to Paul Tisdale, with Martin having previously been playing for MK Dons before making the transition to coaching. He was able to keep MK Dons up in the covid-shortened 2019/20 campaign before managing a 13th place finish in the 2020/21 season.

He left on the eve of the 2021/22 season to take the Swansea City job, then left South Wales for Southampton in 2023 and managed promotion via the play-offs before being dismissed at St Mary’s in December 2024 with the Saints bottom of the Premier League.