Rangers fans are raging at Kevin Thelwell’s comments about Russell Martin | OneFootball

Rangers fans have reacted with incredulity and exasperation to Kevin Thelwell’s recent defence of Russell Martin. The sporting director claimed Martin was among the best coaches he has worked with, but supporters are not buying it, and the atmosphere around Ibrox shows open frustration. As Ibrox Noise highlighted, fans see these words as spin rather than truth. The keyphrase that defines the issue here is repeated by fans across social platforms and forums, and they have used it to hammer home their disbelief. They cannot square that praise with the evidence of their own eyes. Kevin Thelwell backs Russell Martin.

Dire record on the pitch

Martin’s reign has been defined by losses, poor performances, and baffling selections. His system looks fragile and his players lack belief. As Ibrox Noise reported, supporters expected teething problems, but what they have witnessed goes far beyond that. Fans see a Rangers side with no clear plan, no resilience, and no consistent structure. Transition moments repeatedly hurt the team, and every defensive lapse feels inevitable. Many cannot comprehend how anyone in authority could brand Martin one of the best coaches, let alone defend him publicly.

A boys club vibe

Thelwell’s glowing words have fuelled suspicions of a pals club atmosphere. To many supporters, it reeks of jobs for the boys, with friends backing each other regardless of results. This perception matters because Rangers fans demand accountability and visible standards. Ibrox Noise pointed out that Martin’s handling of players has already raised eyebrows. Supporters believe the manager benefits from insider protection. That belief widens the gulf between boardroom rhetoric and terrace reality. Fans feel patronised when their lived experience of failure is dismissed as background noise. They do not tolerate being told that black is white, and results speak louder than any soundbite.

Supporters losing patience

Every defeat hardens attitudes further. Fans view Thelwell’s claim as an insult to their intelligence, as covered in The Times. They expect honesty, not spin, and Martin’s tenure offers little evidence of elite coaching, something even The Scottish Sun noted. The more the club hierarchy clings to these narratives, the more distance grows between fans and leadership. Rangers thrive only when supporters believe in the project, and right now that belief is broken. The keyphrase keeps resurfacing in chants, debates, and social media arguments because it symbolises discontent. Unless Martin delivers victories quickly, no endorsement will soften opinion. Fans will only accept results, and until those arrive, the perception of a pals club running Ibrox will persist.

Rangers supporters want a side that wins, dominates, and reflects the standards of the jersey. They want leaders who face up to reality, not leaders who talk in riddles. Thelwell’s praise for Martin has united the fanbase in disbelief, and until the manager proves himself, the hierarchy’s words as Kevin Thelwell backs Russell Martin will continue to ring hollow.