Rangers fans feel stuck in their own version of Hell but it's only Purgatory as Russell Martin faces judgement

These fans have seen it all before. They need to see something different – and sharpish

In Bruges might be one of the most quotable films in history but unfortunately most of the lines can’t be repeated in a family newspaper.

One of the safer ones that sum it up is the big Irish fella who played Mel Gibson’s best pal in Braveheart suggests that Hell might actually be being forced to stay in the Belgian city forever.

It was a bit harsh, given it’s cracking place, but the movie was actually about Purgatory rather than the next stop down on the lift.

Braveheart’s buddy and his handsome hitman partner were there lying low, awaiting their fate after a botched job.

Funny enough, Rangers are heading there this week – with punters feeling like they are stuck in their own version of football Hell.

But – like the movie duo – they too are actually in Purgatory.

Plenty of punters have already made their decision on Russell Martin but in reality the gaffer should be still awaiting judgement.

But it’s well and truly in the balance.

It’s been a poor start under the new manager and even a couple of decent results in Europe to even get to the play-off stage can’t mark it.

The early euphoria around the Andrew Cavanagh and 49ers takeover has been replaced by a feeling of being stuck in the same torturous time loop of recent seasons.

The slow build up, the ponderous possession, the lack of a cutting edge and the kind of defending that would make kamikaze pilots switch on the autopilot.

These fans have seen it all before. And they need to see something different – and sharpish.

Rangers supporters might accept bumps in the road, dodgy results and maybe even the odd doing.

But they still need to see signs. Crumbs of comfort, hints of progress, some idea there is a path worth following.

They haven’t seen it yet. The Champions League tilt was always going tone fanciful at this stage in the rebuild but there has to be more to hang on in the domestic game.

The performances in the league and cup have been woeful so far with Motherwell and Dundee the ones feeling hard done by after only managing draws.

Even League One Alloa made life uncomfortable at times.

That’s not good enough no matter what. Yes, Gers are trying to atone for past sins, but that doesn’t mean they get a free pass for making new ones while they wait.

It’s too easy to go all Mike Bassett and talk about getting back to basics.

But when a team is making basic errors, that might be what’s needed. Some of the defending in this opening stretch would land school boys in detention.

Martin knows this as well. Those who didn’t fancy him and are already hounding him out paint him as some kind of hippy idealist but it’s an unfair picture.

The manager isn’t telling his players to ignore balls over the top or to stand like crash test dummies at corner kicks.

He does buy and pick a chunk of them though – and he’ll need the new arrivals and same old faces to smarten up straight away.

Martin does need time and a hint of patience, but he’s unlikely to get either. Forget about the 49ers being happy to back a long term project.

Down at Leeds United, Daniel Farke won promotion yet came close to the plank over the summer and still remains on shoogly peg status.

The Ibrox owners need to take the Jefte and Ridden Yilmaz dosh and plough it back into the team. Another first team striker is a must, along with a few others to give the gaffer more of a fighting chance to claw his way out of this early season hole.

It could get deeper with St Mirren, Brugge and Celtic up in the next seven days and if the same old problems keep happening, there really will be Hell to pay.