Well, well. Here we go again!
Another Rangers stumble and once again we're on red alert for a big decision from the board at Ibrox.
It's been dreadful beyond words for Russell Martin so far and he was forced to sneak out the side door at the Falkirk Stadium after John McGlynn's team more than matched them and took a share of the spoils.
There were signs of revival in last weekend's win over Livingston, but defeat to Sturm Graz during the week, followed by another faceplant in the league, and we're back to square one.
The October international break has signalled the death knell for Rangers managers in the past and, as they go into it with just one victory in seven league games, it's becoming harder and harder to imagine him still in the dugout against Dundee United on October 18.
Decision time looms and the pressure is on Andrew Cavenagh to speak up – which fans will be expecting him to do at some point in the near future.
It's a rapidly moving story and we'll have everything you need right here in our LIVE blog.
Key Events
Muscat rockets up the running
It's never too early to speculate on who could be next!
The news that Martin has officially been shown the door appears to have resulted in a surge in bets on Kevin Muscat – who has shot from 12/1 down to 2/1 to be the next Rangers manager.
Steven Gerrard (3/1), Sean Dyche (4/1), and Gary O'Neil (6/1) are all also fancied according to Oddschecker.
It'll be interesting to see how this moves over the next few days!
Next Rangers manager odds
Kevin Muscat - 2/1
Steven Gerrard - 3/1
Sean Dyche - 4/1
Gary O'Neil - 6/1
Michael Carrick, Danny Rohl, Barry Ferguson - 8/1
Derek McInnes, Steve Cooper - 10/1
It's not just Martin who's leaving
As well as Russell Martin, two of the men he brought on board – Matt Gill and Mike Williamson – have also been shown the door.
It clears the path for Andrew Cavenagh and the San Francisco 49ers to implement an entire new management team and they have two weeks now if they want it in place for their return to action against Dundee United next weekend.
Otherwise it may be another short-term appointment, like the one that brought Barry Ferguson and his team of Ibrox favourites to the dugout in the back half of last season.
It's new owners in charge now of course and they'll have their own ideas.
As things stand academy director David McCallum may be the most senior figure currently at the club if they decide to appoint an interim head coach from within.
Stick with us over the next few days as this one is likely to move fast.
123 days of chaos
Who was looking forward to a quiet international break? Because you've got no such luck now...
123 days was all it took for the axe to fall on Russell Martin.
He overtakes Pedro Caixinha for the unwanted title of the shortest-reigning manager in the club's history and will, in all likelihood, be remembered as the worst ever.
There was a sense of inevitability, when he was bundled out of the Falkirk Stadium in a private car separate from his team, that he'd taken his final bow in the dugout.
And now it's official, the hunt can commence for their next manager.
BREAKING! Russell Martin sacked by Rangers
Mayday, mayday.
Russell Martin has officially been sacked by Rangers.
Get the full story here and stick with us for all the reaction!
Russell Martin 'to be sacked' by Rangers
The boss is set to be shown the door following the draw with Falkirk.
The 39-year old has lasted just four months in charge of the Ibrox side, managing five wins in 17 matches.
Just one of those victories have come in the league, with Rangers sitting eighth in the Premiership.
'Private car exit is a bad look' – Stewart
Michael Stewart reckons it's a bad look for Rangers that Russell Martin was smuggled out of the Falkirk Stadium in a private car – because the 'leader' should have left with the team.
It's now looking inevitable the axe will fall on Martin in the very near future with today's draw with Falkirk at last the final straw.
And Stewart, speaking on Sportscene, reckons the optics of the situation – Martin leaving separately from his players after a police escort – aren't great at all.
To be perfectly honest, I think normal circumstances and assessments have gone out the window long ago when it comes to Rangers and Russell Martin.
It’s clear that it’s not getting any better and it’s just delaying the inevitable. But the board aren’t pressing the ejector button and it seems like they’re hanging on.
Under normal circumstances I’d be very surprised for him to still be in his position, and the international break coming up here would be a window where they’d look to make a change. But I still wouldn’t be surprised if he was in charge after the international break either, it’s bizarre.
When you look at those pictures of the manager being escorted and almost smuggled out of the stadium, it’s not a good look.
For whatever reason he’s going out in the car, I still think he should be leading and on the bus with his players. There may be other arrangements or engagements he needs to go to, but the optics still aren’t great.
You are not on the bus with the team, but you’re the leader, the manager, the captain of the ship, you should be on there and leading, not smuggled out in a car.
Murmurs over Russell Martin's future escalate
He is on the brink - and the murmurs coming out of Ibrox are that a decision could have been made already.
Sources have suggested to Record Sport that a decision to sack Russell Martin is now imminent after a disastrous start to the season.
The club are languishing in eighth spot in the table with the draw with Falkirk proving to be the breaking point for some fans - who blocked the team bus from leaving before a police escort accompanied the boss out of the stadium.
It has been noted that an announcement could be made within 24 hours.
From 'death's door' to battling Rangers
John McGlynn admits he’s still pinching himself after seeing Falkirk go from death’s door to living the Premiership high life.
The buzzing Bairns gaffer took over in 2022 when the club was suffering severe financial issues.
But under his expert leadership, they’ve celebrated back-to-back promotions to reclaim a slot in the top flight.
Now they’re looking up after escaping the Premiership drop zone with their stunning point against Rangers.
And McGlynn admits he’s been bowled over after seeing his side go toe-to-toe with Russell Martin’s £40million Light Blues.
This club was at death’s door. Barring a cup run and getting to a Scottish Cup semi-final in 2023, something might have happened because we needed that money.
So yeah, it’s incredible to think how far they’ve come. There are so many examples of that. Liam Henderson was playing part-time at Arbroath, now he’s up against strikers worth X amount of millions and dealing with them. It’s remarkable.
Henry Cartwright’s equaliser earned Falkirk a point after Bojan Miovski’s opener.
And McGlynn believes his side were well worth the point – and maybe even more.
Did we deserve to win? Maybe overall. We started the game on fire, our two wingers were great and we were on the front foot.
We were on the ascendancy and kept it going for half an hour. We just didn’t have anything to show for it in terms of goals. That was the only thing that was missing.
Rangers came into the game before half-time and we gave them encouragement. They scored a good goal, it was well taken.
We were disappointed to be a goal down at half-time but we’ve been there before and rallied to come back.
We started the second half well and got in behind them. Then Henry goes on - which was a great substitution - and gets the goal.
Brian Graham had a chance late on and maybe we could have added to the one goal we got. But being 1-0 down, I’m just glad we got something from the game because it would have been a travesty if we hadn’t.
Maybe we should have taken all three points. I think that would be our best performance of the season so far. We’ve had some good ones but we’ve been yo-yoing. That’s the challenge now - to deliver in our next game.
Falkirk moved out of the relegation zone on goal difference but the Bairns boss isn’t panicking about the league table just yet.
Look, we’re only seven games in so c’mon. We have to calm down. If we get to 37 games, I’ll probably have a heart attack.
Russell Martin set for crunch talks
The under-fire boss is facing major doubts over his future.
And Sky Sports report that his future is in doubt and "discussions will be had over the next 24 hours."
The 49ers golden rule is tested
Things are going from bad to worse for Rangers - and it is now testing one of the 49ers golden rules they have put in place at Leeds United.
Amid speculation over Daniel Farke's long-term future, Paraag Marathe took a vow of silence as he let the action play out on the pitch.
After lifting the English Championship title, the 49ers Enterprises president said: "I do have something to say and, and you know, I am someone who will speak when I have something to say and and when I feel like it's the right time for me.
"I'm not one to respond because some random gossip paper wants to say something. I'm not going to make comments based on rumours and gossip."
Now Marathe and the under-fire decision-makers are in a position where they have to make a decision.
And one way or the other, someone is going to have to say SOMETHING to the raging punters.
Raging fans name every sin
The punters aren't happy - and not just those who were protesting inside and outside of the Falkirk Stadium today.
Rangers have taken to the phones to name every issue with under-fire boss...so far.
Can this go on?
The Rangers team bus needed the Police to get out of Falkirk at full-time.
While Russell Martin had to be escorted out of a stadium side door on his own - to avoid a baying mob.
For anyone on the outside of this Rangers mess, it would appear pretty clear that this simply can’t go on.
But whether it’s enough to change the minds of those on the inside remains to be seen.
After all, they’ve allowed it to fester this long. But Falkirk felt like a pivotal moment for Martin, his staff and the Rangers players.
Not just because cops with batons had to stop punters from holding a sit-down protest in front of their Park’s bus at full-time.
Of that Martin needed protecting on his way out of the ground. No, on top of all of that was the fact that Rangers are almost certainly out of any potential Premiership title race - if they weren’t already.
Martin clamped over 'it's not all about winning' claim
Rangers is about winning games at all costs – and if Russell Martin doesn't like that, then he's in the wrong job.
That's the overwhelming view of the pundits as the boss was hit with a scathing instant takedown after the 1-1 draw with Falkirk.
Martin once again faced tough questions over his future after Bojan Miovski's opener was cancelled out by Henry Cartwright as the Bairns fought impressively to a point – the least they deserved against a dismal Rangers team.
After the game, Martin told TV cameras that style is just as important as substance and there was no 'sustainability' in 'just winning games.'
And the pundits didn't agree whatsoever.
Martin exits Falkirk Stadium via side door
Russell Martin was forced to sneak out the Falkirk Stadium by a side door - but the besieged Rangers boss believes he’s not yet destined for the Ibrox exit.
The under-pressure Ibrox gaffer found himself in the firing line again as his lumbering Light Blues spilled points for the sixth time in seven games so far after being held 1-1 by John McGlynn’s brave Bairns.
While his players were forced to run a gauntlet of hate as around 30 furious fans gathered to the rear of the Gers’ team bus, Martin was seen making his way across the pitch to leave by another door, where a police escort took him to a waiting car.
Meanwhile, riot police with battens drawn were forced to step in and clear a path for the reversing coach as the seething Union Bears even attempted a sit-down protest.
Here are some of the images from the post-match fury in Falkirk.
Hello and welcome!
Rangers are back to square one after another messy week and we'll have it all covered as Russell Martin is left fearing the worst once again!
