Could Russell Martin find himself SACKED after four league games if his Ibrox side loses to Celtic on the 31st?

Let’s face it, if we thought things weren’t going great at Celtic, all we need to do is look across the city to Ibrox for a bit of perspective.

When I say this, I don’t mean to take the focus off what’s going on at our club.

In fact, a big part of what’s going on at our club is shaped by the potential calamity we see unfolding at Ibrox.

I’ve spoken enough times about the next two weeks being critical for our club.

One look at the situation over at Ibrox, and it tells you these two weeks are just as critical for them.

But most especially their manager.

At this moment in time, Brendan Rodgers’ job is not under threat.

The same cannot be said for his counterpart at Ibrox, Russell Martin.

If we’re being honest, Russell Martin’s job at Ibrox was under threat from the moment he was unveiled as their new manager.

He is not wanted at Ibrox.

Its clear he never was.

Martin does not fit in with their ethos.

He is, in fact, the polar opposite to everything that club represents.

Add his start to this season to that, and you can see why they want him gone over there already.

To an outsider looking in, that may seem harsh.

He has, after all, negotiated two tricky Champions League ties already.

Most people doubted him and his side’s ability to get past Panathinaikos in the first tie they played.

Yet they did.

With Viktoria Plzen, despite the loss in the Czech Republic, the job was already done at Ibrox.

So in reality, the loss out there was irrelevant.

Plzen had to go for it, and they did, but they didn’t do enough in the end.

At this moment in time, though, nobody cares about what Russell Martin has achieved in the Champions League qualifiers.

All they care about at Ibrox right now, is that they are already 4 points behind Celtic.

And what is really scaring the living shit out of them is the possibility of finding themselves 10 points adrift of Celtic by the end of matchday 4.

Make no mistake, this is a very real possibility based on the way things have been going for Martin.

Yesterday evening, it took the obligatory “penalty to Raynjurz” to put breathing space between them and Alloa Athletic in their League Cup tie at Ibrox.

At 3-1, they still managed to concede a second goal to Alloa from a corner kick.

It fell to Findlay Curtis in the final minute to settle nerves.

In reality, nerves should not need to be settled against a League One side.

The fact that the Ibrox side conceded 2 goals to the League One outfit is indicative of the problems Russell Martin is experiencing domestically since he took the helm at Ibrox.

Problems that have actually scared the Ibrox side into scrambling to get their fixture against St. Mirren reinstated.

After they had taken the option to postpone the fixture as a result of their CL qualifier on the preceding Tuesday.

This fear is arising from the possibility of finding themselves 10 points adrift of us should they suffer a defeat to us at Ibrox.

As you’re aware, we chose not to postpone our fixture against Livingston.

So, if we won that fixture and they didn’t play that weekend, we could have potentially been in a position to go 10 points clear of them by defeating them at Ibrox the following weekend.

Albeit, they would have a game in hand.

What I find amusing about all of this, is that by reinstating the St. Mirren fixture, there seems to be an assumption that they will win that game.

We saw how tough St. Mirren were to break down at Celtic Park.

Hearts experienced that against them at Paisley again yesterday in the League Cup, and St. Mirren won out in the end in via a penalty shoot out.

They are very well organised defensively.

Add that to the fact they are at home, and the Ibrox side could very well be staring down the barrel of another draw or defeat.

A draw and Celtic have the opportunity to go 9 points clear on matchday 4.

And we already know the scenario if they lose.

Obviously, I haven’t even mentioned the games against Club Brugge sandwiched in there.

Losing to them is only going to serve to make the atmosphere more toxic at Ibrox on the 31st if we score first.

So, the big question here is this, can Russell Martin survive an outcome like that?

I don’t think the CL games will be an influencing factor overall, but losing to us and possibly falling 9 or 10 points adrift?

You really have to wonder if he can survive that?

Hugh Keevins, in his Sunday morning column, believes its unlikely.

Then again, we always know that the opposite to what Keevins says happens.

Even if the Ibrox side wins the reinstated fixture against St. Mirren, they can still potentially fall 7 points behind us if we secured a victory against them next Sunday week.

Even then, Martin would find himself walking a tightrope after such an outcome.

I would say that this guy is facing a pretty raw deal, but to be honest, I’m more concerned about us getting our own house in order.

I’m in no mood to gloat over the potential calamities arising over there.

In fact, the more calamitous it gets, the more it lets our board off the hook.

So, while I should be enjoying all of this, there’s another side to it that denies my enjoyment of it.

Let’s just say that if we rock up to Ibrox in two week’s time with three or four new signings, and having qualified for the Champions League, I might look at things differently.

As I said at the outset, the next two weeks are critical for both clubs.

If the worst case scenario hits Ibrox, they could be managerless by early September.

The big question is will the Americans bend to fan pressure?

Because if they don’t, Martin will be getting it tight from the stands in every game thereafter.

It might be better for him and them if they were to part ways?

Its strange we’re having a conversation we usually have in the middle of the season.

That’s usually when Ibrox managers are given the boot.

With only two league fixtures played, the media are sharpening their knives against Russell Martin.

Should the worst come to pass, you’d have to say its hard to see him surviving it.

Harsh?

Maybe.

Reality?

Yes.

Such is the life of an Ibrox manager.

Most especially one who does not conform to their idiosyncrasies.

The refusal to wear brown brogues was the start of it…