Fans and pundits slam Rangers’ swimming trip to Loch Lomond | OneFootball

Rangers fans have seen many strange moments in recent years but the trip to Loch Lomond has sparked genuine derision. Russell Martin believed this team bonding exercise would create unity. Instead, it has generated ridicule from supporters and pundits alike. The trip to Loch Lomond has already become a symbol of a manager grasping at straws. The reaction has been scathing and the mood within the fanbase continues to sour. Rangers fans have not been convinced by the value of this exercise and the trip to Loch Lomond has underlined how far the club has drifted.

Fans ridicule the Loch Lomond idea

Supporters want results on the pitch. They do not want photos of players swimming in cold water. They want fight in Europe and in the Premiership. Instead, they got a PR stunt that has fooled no one. Social media has been filled with sarcastic takes mocking the whole event. Many Rangers fans consider it another nail in Martin’s coffin.

Pundits slam the bonding exercise

Former captain Barry Ferguson made his feelings known by questioning why the players were not working harder at Auchenhowie. He suggested hard graft matters more than wild swimming. Andy Halliday echoed these views, stressing that performances on the park will always outweigh bonding off it. Both men know what Rangers standards demand. Their criticism resonated strongly with the support. It is exactly what Ibrox Noise warned about when stating that we need to be wrong about Martin.

A growing disconnect

This entire saga highlights the growing disconnect between the manager and supporters. Rangers need grit and tactical discipline. They need leaders who understand the demands of Ibrox. What they got was skinny dipping and a hike. It is hard to imagine Walter Smith or Graeme Souness wasting time this way. The comparison is damning. Instead of galvanising the dressing room, Martin has fuelled more laughter. Reports from Sky Sports confirm the players went swimming at Loch Lomond under Martin’s direction.

Rangers find themselves in crisis and the trip has done nothing to change that reality. Fans are already tired of excuses and gimmicks. They want fight, spirit, wins, and above all accountability. Without results, no bonding exercise will ever carry weight. This stunt at Loch Lomond has simply underlined the lack of direction at Ibrox. Even The Guardian stressed how poor the football remains while Martin wastes time on sideshows.

Rangers supporters demand focus on football, not distractions. The derision of this trip shows exactly where the mood lies. Every week the pressure builds on Martin and his players. He is running out of time and the fans know it. As Reuters noted when he was first appointed, Martin arrived with little to no goodwill. Today that goodwill is completely gone.