RUSSELL MARTIN has revealed he’s been given renewed backing as Rangers manager by the Ibrox board.
Chairman Andrew Cavenagh told the squad that Martin was NOT in danger of the sack before the Old Firm 0-0 draw.
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And despite fans chanting frozen-out Nico Raskin’s name during the derby clash, Martin said: “I haven’t felt one change in the owners’ attitude towards me.
“If anything I’ve felt MORE support than ever in the last week.
Martin – who revealed striker Cyriel Dessers has played his last game for the club as he gets set for a move to Greece – added: “Andrew spoke amazingly well to the players and staff on Saturday on the plan we embarked on just 90 days or so ago.
“They felt it was the right plan then and they still do.
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“He doesn’t want to get caught up in the hysteria of what goes out and goes with being at this club.
“The pain threshold has been reached time and time again at this club by the supporters.
“There’s usually a change, but nothing has really changed.
“So I feel really supported by the owners. The players and staff needed to hear that on Saturday.
“There was a lightness in them after that.
“Today they showed how hard they want to run for us, the staff, the supporters and the owners.
“They feel supported and there’s a plan in place. They understand it.
“We’re disappointed we haven’t got more points but we’re six points off the top and now we have to be hungry and hunt desperately to win and get better.”
Martin knows he faces a fight to win over the Rangers supporters who still want him out.
He added: “Until we win football matches there will still be noise.
“By the way, there was noise the first day I was appointed so it’s not a new thing.
“It’s a reaction to games the jobs the media have to get clicks.
“My job is to win games, the media’s job is to create mis-communication between people.
“The noise gets louder but it doesn’t change one thing we do inside the building.
“I’ve had it before as a player and manager already.
“The only way to change the noise is to win matches.
“Every decision I make is not for me or an individual player. It’s for the team and the club, which I think is best.
“Stuff has happened inside the building which I don’t think is best for the club.
“Whether that’s culturally or performance wise.
“We’re trying to bring some of that which will hopefully help us long term as a club, a team and a group.
“That will help the players do great things on the pitch.
“If we win football matches, everyone will be happy. Hopefully people felt better about the team today than they did in midweek, I certainly do.
“Now we have to work hard and come back with that same level of desire and intensity.”
Asked specifically about the Rangers fans chanting Raskin’s name – and whether the Belgian had played his last game for the club, Martin added: “I didn’t hear anything.
“I just want to focus my energy on the squad today who I’m proud of.
“It’s not about me, Nico or any individual. I just want to talk about the group who were brilliant today.
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“I’m not going to talk about individuals. The squad we picked today was one we knew would run for each other.
“They were all in and we felt that.”
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