Russell Martin has never really been a well-liked figure among Leeds United fans, not least because his Southampton side beat Leeds in the 2024 Championship play-off final.
So it came as a surprise when Paraag Marathe and The 49ers, shortly after purchasing a controlling stake in Rangers, hired Martin following his exit as Southampton boss after a poor start in the Premier League.
Martin had a loan spell at Rangers towards the end of his playing career, but even Rangers fans weren’t convinced with his hiring. It comes as little surprise that things have ended in failure for gaffer Martin.
After a dismal start to his Rangers career and a win rate of less than 30%, Martin was sacked after Rangers failed to beat Falkirk away from home. The Gers have won just once in the Premiership during 2025-26.
Russell Martin’s Daniel Farke claim comes back to bite him
Before his hiring as Rangers manager, Martin spoke to Gary Lineker on The Rest Is Football podcast and made a strange claim, that he may have remained Southampton boss longer, if he lost the play-off final.
“Daniel is still in a job now and he’s been a manager a lot longer than me. We beat them in the final but actually he stayed in the job and is still in the job, and will probably get promoted this year,” he said.
Having taken the Rangers job, Martin will have hoped to have outlived Farke, alongside his own theory that gaining promotion put his job security on the line. But Martin has already beaten Farke to the sack.
Indeed, Martin has become the first manager to be sacked by The 49ers since 49ers Enterprises entered the footballing world. Meanwhile, Farke remains manager at Leeds, more than two years into the role.
What is Daniel Farke’s job security at Leeds after promotion?
So far, Leeds have eight points from seven Premier League games after what has been a difficult start in terms of fixtures. Three Champions League sides faced, Leeds remain above the point-a-game line.
The Leeds board are happy with the work done by Farke, the board acknowledging that it should have been more points but for injury time goals against Bournemouth and Fulham, one point instead of four.
As long as Farke continues to keep Leeds above the point a game line, then doubts won’t creep in. But failing to pick up a win against either Burnley or West Ham will result in pressure being applied.
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