By Andrew Newport

Copyright dailyrecord

One thing you can’t accuse Russell Martin of is not having a thick skin. And boy he’s needed it so far this season. The Rangers boss has taken more flak than anyone who has EVER sat in the Ibrox hot seat. At Livingston on Sunday, it reached unprecedented levels of abuse . And it wasn’t just the fact that after his team scored a late winner, supporters immediately chanted for him to ‘get to f***’. Even before kick-off, while doing his pre-match interview duties, Martin was verbally abused. This time, it wasn’t only adult Rangers fans – it was their kids as well. And while he says he can handle any stick that comes his way, he admits that felt like a new low. Martin might actually get some respite here in Austria tonight when his side face Sturm Graz in the Europa League . Only around 1,000 visiting supporters are expected to travel as Gers attempt to build momentum after victory at Livi with another positive result. Irrespective of the outcome, Martin will still get it in the neck after a disastrous start to the domestic campaign. And he’s ready for whatever comes his way. He accepts that it hasn’t exactly gone to plan since his appointment in the summer. But when it comes to personal abuse, Martin is concerned at the example being set to youngsters by some of those dishing it out. As he reflected on what happened in West Lothian, he said: “I walked straight down the tunnel on Sunday because I wanted the players to enjoy it. “They deserved to enjoy it because they played really well in the first half especially. “There is a narrative that it was late and Livingston were unlucky. But we deserved to win the game. “So I wanted the players to enjoy it – then people can choose to turn their attention to me. “I just wish at that point they could enjoy their team winning rather than that energy coming towards me. “The only thing I find sad is when I see kids standing next to their dads and sticking their fingers up at me or swearing at me. “I don’t feel particularly sad about that for me. I feel it’s more about that cycle going on. “Look, I’m here and we’ve made mistakes. “There’s been some tough moments, but we’re giving everything we’ve got to improve the club. As is Kevin (Thelwell), Patrick (Stewart) and the owners. “When you have so much change – and it’s not an excuse – but I think it’s pretty evident it might take some time. “So the criticism aimed at me is fine. I’ve actually had a lot of fans come up to me in the city telling me to ignore it. “They feel it’s gone quite some way over the normal criticism. “I’ve really appreciated that. I think they just want to see their team win. So we have to win games of football. “Inside the building, the players and staff have been amazing. They’re so together. “You saw that in the celebrations on Sunday with the doctor, the physios, the subs, the players who hadn’t even played. “Nedim Bajrami jumped into the crowd and he only played 10 minutes. “So I enjoyed that.” Whatever you think of Martin as a Rangers manager, no-one in his position has ever encountered this level of vitriol in the job. It started before a ball was kicked with most punters against his appointment. He accepts that a Champions League battering in Brugge tipped some supporters over the edge – and he’s been trying to claw it back ever since. So what keeps him going when anyone of a Rangers persuasion seemingly wants him out? The answer is a burning desire to prove them wrong. Ahead of this Europa tie in Graz, Martin said: “I think social media increases the ferocity and intensity of everything. “We had a really difficult night in Bruges which amplified everything and we haven’t quite brought it back since then. “It took the lads a while to recover but I think they are showing signs now that they are getting into a flow and understanding what we want. “We have to prove it now. I’ve had a lot of support from a lot of people. “Players I’ve coached or played with, other managers domestically and down the road. “I have to accept it. I hope at some point it turns and maybe they’ll feel differently about me and the team. “I respect the club by working as hard as I possibly can every day. “I’m really enjoying my job, despite everything that goes on. “The match day, not so much right now. I enjoy the 90 minutes watching the team – but the before and after not so much. “But I will give everything until one day it will end. “My whole career was built on proving people wrong. That is the challenge now and I’m really looking forward to that “I really hope we can do it and I believe we can. “We had a player ask to do the press recently just to show his support for us. The senior guys wanted to do that and that’s not normal. So we have to keep working because I believe in what we’re doing. “I don’t have a message for the supporters because there is nothing I can say right now that will influence anything. We just have to win.” And for 45 minutes at least at the weekend, there WERE signs of improvement, despite needing an injury time winner. Martin sees a spirit developing within his squad – even if progress is taking longer than most fans expected. He said: “These players are so open to growing and learning. You saw that on Sunday, they are really together. “With so much change, you don’t get that in an instant. “That type of chemistry takes time. But you know what, since we went that walk at Loch Lomond…. “Maybe that wasn’t such a bad idea after all.”