(Credit: Imago)
Sun 17 August 2025 12:53, UK
Russell Martin is coming under increasing pressure at Rangers, and his consistent selection of Kieran Dowell is causing friction among the fans.
The midfielder spent last season on loan at Birmingham City, but Martin appears determined to bring Dowell back into the fold, despite some disastrous performances so far.
Dowell started again as Rangers saw off Alloa in the Scottish League Cup, but his performance again left a lot to be desired.
Rangers’ draw with Dundee last week saw Dowell booed as he was substituted on, and Martin has now been criticised for his reaction to the incident.
Martin is coming under increasing pressure at Rangers (Credit: Imago)Martin criticised for Dowell defence
Martin leapt to the midfielder’s defence after he was booed against Dundee, but Dowell’s performance against Alloa saw him at fault for one of their goals as he was caught out during a set-piece.
It is clear that the Ibrox faithful have no time for Dowell, and would like to see him move on this summer, and Martin is putting himself under more pressure by including him.
“That surprised me. I’m not on any social media or anything like that, so I don’t really know what the narrative is around Kieran. I don’t think it helps him, I don’t think it helps the rest of the guys. That’s how I feel about it really,” Martin stated of Dowell after the booing.“I’m disappointed for Kieran, because what we’ve seen at the training ground and I speak to everyone there, he’s really valued as a person and a character. And he’s played out of position for us for three games.”
Writing in the Scottish Mail on Sunday (August 17, page 90), Gary Keown slammed Martin for going against the fans to stick up for Dowell.
“They [the fans] see a guy who was jettisoned from the building last season now back in the fold as a member of the ‘senior leadership team’ yet showing nothing to suggest he is, in any way, worthy of a place in the side,” Keown wrote.
“What he’s like at the training ground is completely irrelevant to them. And what they think about what they are seeing from him was made clear in the 56th minute of the Dundee game when he replaced Mohamed Diomande.
“The boos were deafening. Almost as loud as the jeering for Martin when he took off Lyall Cameron for Nico Raskin seconds earlier.”
Martin defended Dowell after he was booed by Rangers fans (Credit: Imago)Martin has to sell Dowell to save his job
Although the boos may be somewhat harsh on Dowell, given that he has barely had much time to settle back into the team, it is clear that he has no future at Rangers whatsoever.
By persisting with him, as an act of defiance against the fans, Martin will only increase the toxicity inside Ibrox, and any fans who hold patience for him will quickly turn against the manager if Dowell continues to play.
Selling Dowell in the coming weeks will show that Martin can be ruthless over his favoured players, and it will allow the midfielder to kick-start his career in a less toxic environment.
Continually picking Dowell, even as a backup, will do the manager and the player no favours, and it could end up costing Martin his job as Rangers boss.
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