Rangers sporting director Kevin Thelwell backs Russell Martin to turn things around | OneFootball

Rangers sporting director Kevin Thelwell has backed manager Russell Martin to turn things around following an underwhelming start to his reign at the Ibrox club.

Rangers are winless in four Scottish Premiership games in 2025-26, while Club Brugge defeated them 9-1 on aggregate in the play-offs of the Champions League.

Martin is under pressure as a result, with Light Blues supporters calling for his head, but Thelwell insists he remains the best man for the job and is one of the best managers he has worked with.

“I have been very lucky over the course of my career to work with some very good managers and some very good head coaches,” the former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton director of football said in an address to Rangers fans.

“And I have to say to you, he is one of the best. He is a very good coach, very good on the grass, very well organised. He is extremely high-energy. So he gives time to players, wants to work with players and wants to develop players, wants to be very clear about trying to make players better and develop them. And also he cares about the group.

“He cares about the results, cares about the performances and also cares about the staff here. I found him very collaborative. Now, I appreciate I am saying all of those things and we haven’t quite translated yet that what I am seeing on a day-to-day basis, all of that hard work, all of that energy into what we need to see on the pitch. But I am certain that that will happen. And I appreciate it is very easy for me to sit here and ask for patience.

“I won’t do that because I know we work at an incredible football club that desires and needs to have a winning team very quickly. But there also needs to be a little bit of perspective here because we have changed so much and hopefully in due course, again, the fans and everybody will see all of the good work that’s been going on out on the pitch through the performances.”

Martin needs to start delivering the goods after he was backed in the summer transfer window, and the international break should give him time to review recent performances and how to get the best out of his team.

Rangers are back in action on September 13 with a home game against Hearts, and a victory will be a much-needed boost for the manager and his boys.