Rangers head coach Russell Martin has said he takes responsibility for the 1-1 draw with Falkirk but insists he can turn the team around and is not considering his own future.
Fans of the Ibrox club staged an angry protest after the full time whistle, blocking the team bus and making their feelings known to players, while it’s understood Martin left through a different door and into a waiting car.
Rangers had taken the lead against last season’s Championship winners, with Bojan Miovski finding the net just before half-time. Even after that opening goal, travelling fans had targeted Martin with chants making it clear they want him to leave his position.
Henry Cartwright’s equaliser added to the fury from the Rangers support and after the final whistle a group congregated outside the stadium amidst angry scenes.
In his post-match media conference, Martin had said he felt “frustrated” by the result, which leaves the team in eighth place in the league table, but insisted the players were making every effort to succeed.
Asked if he would take stock of his own position and question whether he was the man to lead the team, he was adamant that he could still deliver success.
“No, no, because I believe I can,” he said. “I believe I can.
“So I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, I knew it probably wasn’t going to be quick, but we’re at a club where patience is not a word that is used.
“So no, I really believe I can. 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.”
SNS GroupThe former Southampton boss admitted he had heard the chants directed at him from the stands and said the experience was “character building”. And when asked if he thought that the international break was perhaps an opportunity when the club’s hierarchy might reflect on his position and take a decision, he said that he had no sense of whether that was likely.
“No, but I don’t think I would,” Martin said. “Even if they were thinking about that, if they then gave me that sense, I don’t think they’d be doing their job properly.
“I’ve had nothing but support in the last week and more so than ever, actually, with some of the conversations we’ve had.
“I just can’t control that. So I can’t really give you a better answer than that.”
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