### Rangers Season Hits Rock Bottom as Fans Nearly Attack Russell Martin After Crushing Genk Defeat
**Glasgow, September 25, 2025** – In a night that encapsulated the despair gripping Ibrox, Rangers’ Europa League opener against Genk ended in a humiliating 0-1 loss, pushing the club deeper into crisis. The solitary goal from Hyeon-gyu Oh in the 55th minute sealed the fate of Russell Martin beleaguered side, who were reduced to 10 men after Mohamed Diomande’s straight red card just before halftime. Jack Butland’s penalty save from Oh offered fleeting hope, but the Gers’ toothless attack managed only five shots, none on target.
This defeat marks the nadir of a wretched campaign. Already 11th in the Scottish Premiership with one win in six domestic games, Rangers’ 9-1 aggregate Champions League playoff exit to Club Brugge lingers like a scar. Attendance at Ibrox dipped below 38,000 – a damning indictment of fan disillusionment, with many boycotting in protest against manager Russell Martin.
The post-match scenes were explosive. As the final whistle blew, a furious mob of supporters surged toward the tunnel, chanting “Russell out – worst manager in history” and hurling abuse at the under-fire coach. Security and stewards formed a human barricade, physically restraining the crowd from reaching Martin, who was shielded by players and staff. Bottles and scarves rained down, echoing the organized demonstrations against Martin and CEO Patrick Stewart earlier this month, where bedsheets and posters decried the regime.
Martin, the former Rangers defender turned boss, cut a forlorn figure. “This is the toughest scrutiny I’ve faced,” he admitted post-match, his voice cracking. “The fans deserve better – we’ve let them down.” His possession-based philosophy, once hailed as progressive, now feels alien to a squad lacking cohesion. Nicolas Raskin’s benching and the wild swimming team-bonding trip to Loch Lomond have only fueled the fire, with supporters labeling him “deluded.”
Whispers of Martin’s sacking grow louder. The board’s patience, already thin after Hearts and Celtic draws, may snap if Europa hopes fizzle. Genk’s win – their first away victory this season – exposes Rangers’ frailties. As one fan banner read outside Ibrox: “Sack the lot.” For the Gers, rock bottom feels like home.
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