Former Rangers head coach Russell Martin has revealed the personal toll his short tenure at Ibrox took on his family, admitting he was unable to take his children to matches due to the level of abuse he received.

Speaking in his first interview since leaving the club, Martin reflected candidly on his 123-day spell in charge, during which Rangers won just five of 17 games. Despite the disappointing results, the former Scotland international insists he holds no regrets.

“I don’t regret anything, I’ll be better for it,” he said. “I loved Glasgow as a city and living there. The people face-to-face were fantastic.”

However, behind the scenes, the experience proved far more challenging—especially for those closest to him.

“It was really difficult for the people around me—family, friends. When my kids came up, they couldn’t come to the games because of the levels of abuse I was receiving. That was quite early on,” Martin explained.

A Turbulent Environment

Martin pointed to the scale of change at the club as a key factor in his difficult spell. He arrived during a period of significant transition, with new ownership, a fresh executive structure, and a major overhaul of the playing squad.

“There was a new director of football, a new chief executive, head of performance, and 14 new players,” he said. “I tried to make it clear that it would take time.”

Despite that, Martin acknowledged he may have underestimated the demands and expectations that come with managing a club of Rangers’ stature.

“I was at a place where historically you don’t have time,” he admitted.

Lessons Learned

While he stands by his overall approach, Martin conceded there were tactical areas where he could have done better.

“I should have been a bit more rigid with formations and certain principles,” he said. “I tried to bend and adapt to suit the newness of the group, but we should have done a better job and won more games.”

Still, he believes progress was being made before his departure.

“We felt we were going to get somewhere with it,” he added.

Looking Ahead

Despite the frustrations, Martin remains focused on the positives—particularly the development of younger players during his tenure.

“There were so many young players coming into such a unique environment,” he said. “As a manager, it’s always your responsibility. I’ll learn from it and be better for it.”

His reflections offer a glimpse into the intense pressure of football management at the highest level, as well as the often-overlooked impact it can have beyond the pitch.