‘Martin one of the best coaches’ – Rangers boss receives backing from sporting director

Rangers sporting director Kevin Thelwell is adamant that Russell Martin will turn things around at the club after labelling him as “one of the best” coaches he has worked with.

Martin has struggled in his tenure so far, as their goalless affair in the Old Firm derby last weekend marked Rangers’ fourth consecutive draw to start the Scottish Premiership season.

They also failed to qualify for the league phase of the Champions League after losing the play-off round 9-1 on aggregate against Club Brugge, which included a 6-0 defeat in the away leg.

Rangers have opened a Premiership campaign with four winless matches for only the fourth time in their history, and have now failed to win five successive top-flight games for the first time since December 2005.

Despite the mounting pressure on Martin, Thelwell has backed the head coach to improve things after the international break.

“I've been very lucky over the course of my career to work with some very good managers and some very good head coaches and I have to say to you, he's one of the best,” Thelwell told Rangers TV.

“He's 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.

“He cares about the group. He cares about the results, cares about the performances and also cares about the staff here.

“I appreciate I'm saying all of those things and we haven't quite translated yet that what I'm 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'm certain that that will happen.”