Philippe Clement looks set to remain Rangers manager ahead of Sunday’s trip to Hearts in the Scottish Premiership – live on Sky Sports.
That’s despite his side losing 1-0 to Championship outfit Queen’s Park at Ibrox, meaning the Gers’ hopes of domestic silverware this season are all but over.
The club are 13 points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership with 13 games to go, having already lost to their Old Firm rivals in the League Cup final.
Sunday 16th February 11:00am Kick off 12:00pm
- Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW 📺
- Rangers fixtures and results
- Download the Sky Sports App
While Rangers are in the last-16 of the Europa League, many fans have called on the Belgian boss to be relieved of his duties after just 16 months at the helm.
However, it appears to be business as usual at Rangers ahead of Sunday’s match – live on Sky Sports – with Clement also insisting he is not considering leaving the role.
What is going on behind the scenes?
Perhaps the notion of business as usual should not come as a surprise to supporters after CEO Patrick Stewart revealed just one month ago that he would stand by Clement, for now.
No knee-jerk reaction came after a run of four away games without a win, albeit there was an Old Firm victory sandwiched in between.
Stewart said it would have been “the easy decision” to listen to fan frustration and sack Clement. However, he believes his own time as chief at Old Trafford proves constant managerial change is not effective. That being said, he did warn results must improve with no “cast-iron guarantees” offered.
- Free-to-watch Scottish Premiership highlights
- Scottish Premiership table | Fixtures | Results
- Transfer Centre LIVE! | Paper Talk
Instead of short-term fixes, Stewart made it clear he wants to look underneath the bonnet at Ibrox.
Rangers have seen their rivals Celtic win 12 of the last 13 league titles and the CEO sanctioned a “root and branch review of the entire football department”, led by external experts. The club are one month into the process, which is likely to go on for weeks.
He wants to tackle the issues that have blighted the club on and off the field in recent seasons and while new assistant Issame Charai was appointed a couple of weeks ago – there is still plenty on the to-do list behind the scenes at Ibrox.
Boyd: Nothing for fans to be optimistic about
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Speaking on Sky Sports News, former Rangers striker Kris Boyd said:
“When you look at this season, it has been really poor but that loss to Queen’s Park tops the lot. Upsets can happen but Rangers can’t be losing at home to Queen’s Park.
“You look at the league table – it doesn’t lie – 13 points behind, having already beaten Celtic, lost the League Cup final to Celtic and now knocked out of the Scottish Cup.
“We’re not even in the middle of February and domestically it’s over for Rangers already. Europe, for me, has papered over the cracks.
“I think a lot of people have looked at Rangers on a Thursday night and you can see some signs that the players have got themselves up for those games but come the Sunday after it, they’ve struggled.
“I know Patrick Stewart said it wasn’t a financial decision [to avoid sacking Clement] in the past when he’s spoken. I think right now the Rangers fans need to know is Clement only there now because of finances, because in terms of the progression of the team – we’re not seeing that.
“In terms of improvement, there’s nothing for any Rangers fan to feel optimistic about Philippe Clement carrying Rangers forward.
“When you look at the big picture here and go back to the start of the season, James Tavernier was at one point Rangers third choice right-back [behind Kasanwirjo and Sterling]. He didn’t know if he was coming or going. Ianis Hagi was told by the manager that he wasn’t in his plans, he didn’t see him as his number 10.
“Nicolas Raskin was so far out the picture too. Now those three are the first names in Clement’s starting XI. One minute they’ve been told they’re not good enough, they weren’t part of the plans, they’re getting cast aside. Now all of a sudden you’re asking them to go and get results.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
“I get the fact that it’s over to the players as soon as they cross the white line but I think that there’s a lack of trust from the players to the manager and vice versa.
“Philippe Clement has already had a lot of criticism and rightly so in my opinion because 13 points behind Celtic, out of the Scottish Cup to Queen’s Park at home, and lost the League Cup final to Celtic.
“Yes they did qualify for the last 16 of the Europa League, but domestically is what – at least when I was growing up – was the be-all and end-all for Rangers and I don’t think that will ever change.”
What did Clement say on his future?
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Rangers’ Philippe Clement when asked if he would consider his position after the Queen’s Park defeat:
“No, totally not. No, I don’t expect this (talks with board) because you can put another manager in this game – would it be different in that sense?
“So what was yesterday? Progression was made, top eight in Europe and more consistency in the league and all these things, they don’t change in 90 minutes.
“If you do that and make decisions in that way, then you make only decisions out of emotions and not out of what’s been going on. So I don’t expect this now.
“I understand that the fans are emotional now. I know a lot of fans were on my side three hours ago. I know that.
“So now are the emotions of this game and I totally understand that because I’m also angry and frustrated about that, about this result and going out of the Cup because it was one of our big goals and our shortest chance to go to win a trophy this season.
“We all know that. That’s probably also one of the reasons that the team was nervous in the second half, because they wanted that so much because they know how important it is for the club.
“Of course it’s unacceptable, this result. Clearly, that’s unacceptable.
“It’s a hold-up today. It’s a f****** frustrating one. Sorry to use that word. But it’s my feeling for the moment. So I’m as frustrated as everybody else.”
What is the fans view?
Ricki Neill from All About The Gers Podcast said:
“The last time I was on Sky I wanted Clement out straight away but then I was with Graeme Souness at the start of January and he was basically saying we really need to stick with this manager.
“Every single game I change my mind and perhaps now is the end but we still don’t know what kind of backing he’s getting.
Monterosa This content is provided by Monterosa, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Monterosa cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options. Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Monterosa cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Monterosa cookies for this session only.
“Patrick Stewart basically said in January that we’re only going to get one or two players, which isn’t good enough. We need somebody like Kris Boyd, we need an out-and-out goal scorer. Everybody can see that and we’ve still not got that.
“Igamane was a future project but we’re now having to throw him in to try and get the goals.
“There are fewer and fewer people going to Ibrox now which isn’t good because we need the finances as well.
“I definitely think the board need to make a decision. I heard Kris say a few weeks ago that he thinks the manager has lost the dressing room, which might be true. I don’t know how you can play well in Europe and then put out a performance like that against Queen’s Park.”
Rangers’ upcoming fixtures:
- February 16: Hearts (A) – Scottish Premiership, live on Sky Sports
- February 22: St Mirren (H) – Scottish Premiership
- February 26: Kilmarnock (A) – Scottish Premiership, live on Sky Sports
- March 1: Motherwell (H) – Scottish Premiership
- March 6: TBC – Europa League last-16
- March 13: TBC – Europa League last-16
- March 16: Celtic (A) – Scottish Premiership, live on Sky Sports
