Rangers manager Russell Martin reveals three-night hospital worry over daughter during difficult week for family

RUSSELL MARTIN is struggling to keep his head above water at Ibrox right now.

But even if things had been going swimmingly, he’d always planned to take his players for a dip in Loch Lomond.

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The Rangers boss raised eyebrows this week when he whisked his confidence-stricken stars off on a team bonding exercise.

A paddle in Scotland’s freezing waters was probably not high on their Monday morning to-do lists, but last night Martin defended his decision.

He revealed: “It’s always been a plan, it’s just been the timing to do it.

“This city’s so intense, the club’s so intense, I think to step away from it sometimes is a good thing, lads can take a breath, actually spend some time together where they’re not just playing football and being worked.

“I think it was good, I really enjoyed it. 

“I think if we did it when we’re winning, no one says a word and you can be perceived either way. 

“I’ve done it at every club we’ve been at, various things, not always the sea because you’re not close enough, but I’d say it’s good for the lads.

“There was a lightness to them, they spent a lot of time together, we had a long walk, they had a little dip.

“I said to them it’s just about you having to take a breath in there, otherwise it’s going to really hurt and we’re going to experience a bit of pain together, which we have done.”

At the end of a bruising week for the embattled Rangers manager, Martin laid bare the toll the abuse is taking on his family and friends.

As his side slumped to tenth in the table – without a win in their first five Premiership matches – the 39-year-old felt the full wrath of the fuming Gers support.

Repeatedly chanting “Martin,Martin get to f***’ throughout the 2-0 loss to Hearts, the disillusioned home support joined in with Jambos fans to belt out “You’re getting sacked in the morning’.

A transatlantic heart-to-heart with chairman Andrew Cavenagh less than 24 hours later allayed those fears for now.

Yet last night the Gers boss admitted it’s been a difficult week for his family.

He said: “The personal bit is difficult because people worry about you and they read it because they want to feel some connection because I’m a long way away from them. 

“But I think last week there was a lot of perspective.

“I wasn’t very well, I got out of bed on Thursday and Friday to take the session and went back to bed. 

“I had a chest infection all week, my daughter’s been in hospital for three nights this week – that gives you perspective because it’s difficult seeing your kids poorly.

“I read a few things saying how unwell I looked or beaten up after the game, it’s because I’d been in bed all week. 

“But you have to accept it, coming to a club like this, I knew the intensity of it, it was part of the excitement and the challenge of coming here and choosing this job over others.

“If you want to enjoy it when it’s going well you have to accept it when it’s not as well. 

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“So for us, fine, for the families they have to be used to it because I want to be a manager for a very long time so they’re just going to have to find a way to deal with it.”

As well as the backing of the Rangers owner, Martin insists he’s been bombarded with messages of support by many inside and outside the game.

He revealed: “I’ve had some amazing messages in the last week of support from people I’ve played with, people I’ve worked with, players we’ve managed and coached, ex-players from here, people that have an understanding of what we’re trying to do. 

“I think there’s always a few people you can really rely on, but also to be honest as well and give you a different opinion.

“It’s not like you want loads of sycophants around you, you want some honesty and some perspective and so there’s some amazing people who can give you that.”

Cavenagh has landed in Glasgow and will be confronted by a furious fan protest when he arrives at Ibrox tomorrow afternoon.

The Light Blues chairman is determined to take full control of the deepening Gers crisis but his visit will coincide with angry demonstrations as seething supporters call for the removal of Martin and Patrick Stewart.

Last night Martin mounted a strong defence of the club’s embattled chief executive.

He stressed: “I have a good relationship with Patrick.

“I said to Patrick, I think this club has been used by some individuals to come here and progress their career. 

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“To have the status of being attached to the football club in the city, enjoy that. 

“In Patrick, in the ownership, in Kevin, you’ve got people that actually really care about making this club sustainable and successful again. 

“We know it’s going to take some work to get back to that. 

“I think when you’re in a role that I’m in, Patrick’s in, of course you’re always going to be, if it’s not going so well, a target of frustration. 

“But what I would say to people is he genuinely really cares about the people here. 

“He genuinely really cares about trying to give the club something to build from.”

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