Philippe Clement: Sack decision confirmed as Rangers CEO issues update on under-fire manager

Rangers CEO Patrick Stewart has confirmed that under-fire manager Philippe Clement has the board's backing for now, but insists that results indispensable amended with nary "cast robust guarantees" offered to the Belgian.

Clement has travel nether accrued unit pursuing a disappointing tally of results, with the Gers winning conscionable 2 of their past 8 matches successful each competitions.

One of those 2 victories really came against Old Firm rivals Celtic (3-0) astatine Ibrox connected January 2, but they person since drawn their past 2 Scottish Premiership games with Hibernian and Dundee, leaving them a whopping 18 points down the Hoops astatine the summit.

Clement extended his declaration astatine Rangers until 2028 past summer, but determination person been suggestions that the Glaswegian giants could determine to portion ways with the 50-year-old amidst increasing vexation from the club's supporters.

However, caller CEO Stewart - who took up his relation astatine Ibrox little than a period agone aft leaving Manchester United - has reassured Clement that his occupation is harmless for now, insisting that "changing a manager isn't a metallic slug solution".

Speaking astatine a Scottish media briefing, Stewart said: "There's been a batch of speech astir results, a batch of speech astir the manager, and I cognize that the spotlight is connected president Fraser Thornton and myself, but peculiarly connected me. I request to marque immoderate pugnacious decisions - but I'm committed to making the close ones for Rangers, not conscionable the fashionable ones.

© Imago

Clement to stay arsenic Rangers manager... for now

"So cutting to the chase, we're backing Philippe astatine this clip arsenic a board. It's astir taking a deeper look astatine the issues, addressing those problems and staying focused connected gathering a stronger aboriginal for the club. Changing a manager isn't a metallic slug solution.

"You cognize wherever I've worked previously, and that isn't thing that has been effectual there. It's not effectual astatine a batch of shot clubs wherever there's changeless alteration of manager. What I bash request to do, and what the committee are supporting maine with, is uncovering the underlying issues and addressing those."

Stewart has confirmed that helium spoke with Clement past nighttime (Friday), portion a "root and subdivision reappraisal of the full shot department" volition statesman connected Monday - lasting betwixt six to 12 weeks - with outer assistance from shot experts called upon to assistance tackle the club's issues some connected and disconnected the pitch.

"If we unreserved and respond each clip there's immoderate mediocre results, we're successful information of conscionable being backmost successful the aforesaid spot successful a year's clip oregon 18 months' clip oregon nevertheless long," Stweart added. "But I privation to beryllium clear, I'm not saying everything is fine. The fans are frustrated, I get that.

"We're besides frustrated. If I look astatine the distant results, it's not what's expected for Rangers, truthful we're moving with Philippe to code consistency issues - but I'm besides not going to speculate connected what happens if results don't improve.

"I was with Philippe past night, and we discussed the need, the imperative, for results to improve. If results don't improve, evidently I can't springiness Philippe immoderate cast-iron guarantees. He and I person some been astir shot agelong capable to cognize that isn't the case.

"Equally, I'm not going to get into however galore games does Philippe person to prevention his job, that's not what we're about. Football is results-based and I'm not offering immoderate guarantees arsenic to magnitude of tenure due to the fact that it's each astir improving results.

© Imago

Clement alert that "results person to improve"

"Philippe and I person had that treatment truthful it would beryllium foolhardy of maine to accidental we clasp immoderate worker irrespective of results. Of people it's results-based but arsenic we each privation to enactment unneurotic to amended that and that's what we're focused connected astatine the moment.

"We're astir helping Philippe to place wherefore is determination the inconsistency and let's code that. If anything, changing a manager would beryllium the casual decision, due to the fact that a batch of supporters are calling for that. I've seen the statements, but to reiterate, it's a results-orientated business, truthful we cognize that results person to improve."

Rangers announced a nett nonaccomplishment of £17.2m successful the past fiscal year, but Stwart is adamant that the nine are not sticking with Clement due to the fact that they cannot spend to sack him.

"We wouldn't marque immoderate determination connected a manager based connected fiscal reasons, perfectly not," Stewart insisted.

Discussing whether Rangers person plans successful spot should they determine to portion ways with Clement, Stewart added: "Every bully well-run nine should person a succession program successful spot for cardinal positions. Whether it's manager, whether it's me, whether it's a chair, that's thing that I'm looking astatine introducing crossed the board."

Clement has won 48, drawn 16 and mislaid 12 of his 76 games successful complaint of Rangers since joining the nine successful October 2023, and helium won the Scottish League Cup past season.

ID:562590:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect6598: