Rangers head coach Russell Martin says he had hoped fans could “enjoy their team winning” against Livingston rather than direct more criticism towards him in the aftermath of their maiden league win of the season.
Some supporters continued to chant for Martin’s removal even after Max Aaron’s stoppage-time winner because of a poor start to the campaign.
Rangers have won five of their 15 games and are in Austria to face Sturm Graz in the Europa League on Thursday, having lost their opener 1-0 to Genk at Ibrox.
Martin said he walked straight down the tunnel so the players could enjoy the victory against Livingston, their first in six attempts in the league, amid chants for him to be sacked.
“I want the players to enjoy it and people choose to turn their attention to me,” Martin said.
“I just wish at that point they could enjoy their team winning and the lads could enjoy it rather than have that energy towards me.
“The other thing I find sad is when I see kids standing next to their dads and stuff and sticking their fingers up at me and swearing at me. I don’t feel particularly sad about it for me I just feel like that for the cycle [of abuse] to go on.”
Martin added social media “amplifies” the “ferocity” of criticism in football, and vowed to continue to try to turn things around.
“I’m here, we’ve made mistakes,” he said.
“There’s been some tough moments, but we’re giving everything we’ve got to improve the club, as is Kevin [Thelwell], as is Patrick [Stewart], as are the owners.
“And I think when you have so much change, I’ve said it before, it’s not an excuse, but I think it is pretty evident it might take some time. So the criticism aimed at me is fine.
“I had a lot of fans come up to me in the city and around the place saying actually to ignore it, that they feel it’s gone quite some way over the normal criticism. I’ve appreciated that.
“But the rest of it is what it is. I think they just want to see their team win.”