Russell Martin didn’t hold back after Rangers’ 1-1 draw with Motherwell, criticizing his players for lacking fight and consistency. He accused some of “picking and choosing when they want to play football properly” and claimed Motherwell showed more bravery and effort, suggesting Rangers were fortunate to escape with a point.
While Martin’s blunt remarks stirred debate in the media, former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has come out in support of the manager’s stance.
Speaking on talkSPORT (4 August), Jordan defended Martin’s decision to publicly challenge his squad so early in his tenure. He acknowledged the risk of alienating players but argued that setting high standards from the start could ultimately benefit the team.
“This is what Russell Martin does,” Jordan explained. “He did something similar when he was at Southampton, right before the playoffs. He basically called out the entire team, but it worked because he knew the squad well and understood how to push their buttons.”
Jordan added: “There are consequences to going hard like this you might lose a few players but maybe that’s exactly what he wants. Maybe his message is: ‘If you can’t handle the pressure, you’re not staying.’ I actually respect what he said.”
He also noted that Martin’s frustration was justified, considering Rangers struggled against a side like Motherwell, especially after performing better in Europe against stronger opposition like Panathinaikos.
