'Hurt' Martin resolute in Rangers mission

Russell Martin says he cannot control fan protests against him

Rangers head coach Russell Martin admits criticism "hurts" and "is difficult" but is resolute in his view the Ibrox side can succeed under his stewardship.

Defeat by Hearts last week left Rangers 10th in the Scottish Premiership, without a league win this season. That followed a heavy Champions League play-off loss to Club Brugge last month and, overall, Martin has only overseen three wins in 12 since taking charge in the summer.

A fan group plans to protest against Martin and chief executive Patrick Stewart prior to Saturday's Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Hibernian. Chairman Andrew Cavenagh is in Glasgow for the match and was at Ibrox on Friday.

"The protest and stuff, I can't control at all," said Martin.

"I have to respect it, I have to understand their frustration and their annoyance, but I feel every bit of it as well. It's an amazing opportunity for us as a team to come through this period and grow through it and to be so strong from it.

"Hopefully, at that point then everyone will come together. We just need to win football matches.

"It's a really difficult balance because it hurts professionally, because we're working so hard to try and give the supporters what they want - a team that wins and wins a lot and does it in a certain way. I'm more frustrated than anyone.

"Listening to someone tell me the team doesn't look like it's coached is difficult."

It is possible that Rangers could be bottom of the Scottish Premiership by the time they play their next league match.

Martin is the first Rangers boss since John Greig in 1978 to not win any of his first five league games in charge, but he says he cannot take the fan protest "personally".

"I don't know any of them and they don't know me and they don't know how hard we're working," he said.

"It's much harder for the people around me like my family and stuff to deal with than it is for us because it's a professional thing you have to accept. People worry about you."

The head coach revealed he had been struggling with a chest infection around the time of the loss to Hearts and that a close family member had this week been admitted to hospital for three days.

With Cavenagh's visit in the spotlight, Martin said: "I knew he was coming a couple of weeks ago. He's been great. He'll watch training today as he does when he comes in."

Stewart and director of football Kevin Thelwell were defended by Martin following Rangers' summer overhaul of signings and departures.

"You've got people that really care about making this club sustainable and successful again and to do it in a way that the club continues to have some success," said Martin.

Raskin back in squad and 'in good place'

Midfielder Nicolas Raskin, who was left out against Hearts, is in the squad to face Hibs on Saturday.

Raskin, who was pictured attending last week's match at Ibrox, also missed the recent 0-0 draw with Celtic, though Martin had said the Belgium midfielder's situation was "resolved".

Previously, Martin had spoken about Raskin needing to rebuild "trust" without fully explaining the reasons behind the non-selection.

"I'm looking forward to having him back in," Martin said of the Belgium international. "He's trained really well. He's in a good place.

"Maybe it's a necessary thing for this group to improve, to understand what is really important.

"I think it'll be a really important period for Nico in his growth as a human being and a player and I think it'll be good for me in the long term to really learn from it."