Russell Martin faces intense scrutiny as Rangers manager after replacing Steven Gerrard and breaking club customs by not wearing the traditional brown brogues. Celtic's dominance — 13 titles in 14 seasons and one short of Rangers' 55 championships — raises the stakes for the Old Firm rivalry. Rangers have failed to record a league win and have made their worst start in 36 years, increasing pressure on Martin. Supporters and columnists criticized his footwear choice as symbolic of wider expectations. The unforgiving nature of the role means early results will determine his job security. Fan sentiment and tradition have magnified small missteps.
Russell Martin had a mountain to climb before he even took charge of his first game as Rangers manager. First of all, he isn't Steven Gerrard, and secondly, he doesn't wear brown shoes. The challenge of beating Glasgow rivals Celtic, who have won 13 of the past 14 Scottish titles to move within one of equaling Rangers' record of 55 championships, should be demanding enough for Martin, but in one of the most passionate and hostile rivalries in world football,
The results that the former Southampton manager has achieved -- or, more bluntly, has failed to achieve -- since taking on arguably the toughest job in football in June are what will ultimately make or break him at Ibrox, but it is a sign of the unforgiving nature of the role he now occupies that his honeymoon period was curtailed by who he isn't and his footwear choices.
Had results been better -- Rangers go into Sunday's Old Firm game against Celtic on Sunday without a league win after making their worst start to a season in 36 years -- Martin's attire would likely have been nothing more than a mild irritant to a small group of fans, but it is now compounding his problems as he fights to save his job.
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