Under-fire Rangers boss Russell Martin insists he has the backing of the Ibrox board despite being humiliated 6-0 by Club Brugge in the second leg of their Champions League play-off clash.
The former Southampton manager has failed to win a league game yet in his first season in charge, opening the campaign with three draws to sit six points adrift of leaders Celtic, who visit Govan on Sunday.
Things reached a new low in Belgium, however, with the rampant hosts inflicting one of Rangers’ worst ever results to stroll through 9-1 on aggregate.
Irate supporters were calling for Martin to go during the first half in which they watched their side ship five goals after being reduced to 10 men.
The 39-year-old is confident his job is safe, though, telling TNT Sports after the match that he has the backing of the chief executive Patrick Stewart and sporting director Kevin Thelwell.
Asked if he has any doubts over his future, Martin said: “No. I’ve had a chat with Patrick and Kevin already. They’re amazing, they’re really supportive.
“They understand that this might take time, they knew that before they came in. They understand the position and where we’re at, and all the focus is now on Sunday.
“The only thing we can do tonight is accept the pain, the humiliation and the hurt that we are going to feel, and then use it for fuel.
“There’s no other choice. There is another choice, but it’s not an acceptable one for us and this group right now.”
Rangers’ heavy defeat completed a miserable week in Europe for Scotland’s two biggest clubs, Celtic having lost a penalty shoot-out against Kairat Almaty in Kazakhstan 24 hours earlier to also miss out on the lucrative Champions League group stage.
Aberdeen and Hibs will be hoping to keep the saltire flying in Europe despite both being underdogs in their respective matches.
The Dons face Romanian champions FCSB with the tie level at 2-2 after the first leg of their Europa League play-off at Pittodrie. Hibs take on Legia Warsaw in Poland trailing 2-1 after the opening leg of their Conference League play-off in Edinburgh.
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