SIX SCANDAL

Relentless and clinical: Brugge batter hapless Gers as Martin era sinks to new low with nine-one aggregate drubbing

- By Ronnie Esplin

RUSSELL MARTIN’S tenure at Rangers continues on its disastrous downward spiral with a humiliating Champions League playoff defeat to Club Brugge.

The Light Blues faced a monumental task after losing 3-1 in the first leg at Ibrox and were a goal down after just five minutes from a Nicolo Tresoldi header before Gers right-back Max Aarons was shown a straight red card three minutes later for hauling back Christos Tzolis.

As the 10-man Govan side spectacularly capitulated, goals from captain Hans Vanaken, Joaquin Seys — twice - and Aleksandar Stankovic had the home side five up at the break.

Tzolis made it 6-0 just five minutes into the second half, which, mercifully for Rangers, brought no more pain in terms of the scoreline. However, the ramifications will be considerable.

Martin was already under severe pressure, but the abysmal embarrassment of a performance which leaves him with three wins from 10 games, and the uproar from fans who have lost hope, may force the club’s new USA-based owners and investors to think again.