Why Philippe Clement will be at Rangers long-term as board stance examined
Yesterday at 10:30 AM
The debate around Philippe Clement’s future seems to be circular.
That is the nature of being manager at Ibrox, especially when results are so up and down like they have been in recent weeks.
But expectations around what will happen to the Belgian seem to fluctuate way more than anyone that has gone before in the dugout.
Recent away form has been abysmal and results like the draws against St Mirren, Motherwell and Hibs are always going to pile pressure on Clement.
But then he always seems to pull a result out the bag, like the thrilling victory over Celtic.
Rangers fans have been losing patience and the Motherwell result sparked many of them to demand change, insisting the manager’s position is ‘untenable’.
Ross McCormack claimed the only reason Clement was not sacked at that point was because the club wouldn’t have wanted upheaval ahead of the derby.
The result in that one bought him more time but the pressure is heaping back on.
And Kris Boyd warned the Gers boss that he will be sacked if the inconsistency and away form continues.
Despite all of this, it’s not clear how much pressure the manager is actually under from within Rangers.
Alan Hutton expects lengthy Clement Rangers stay
Not much, according to Alan Hutton.
The former Light Blues full-back feels the club are invested in Clement and see him as a long-term project, and someone who is capable of bridging the gap long-term.
That is why he sees the Belgian staying at the club and being given the time and space to make gradual improvements.
Speaking on Premier Sports’ Social Club show, Hutton said: “They (questions) will always be asked because we know, if you’re manager of Rangers and not winning week in week out, then it’s always going to be there.
“I just think he’ll be there long-term, unless there’s a nightmare in terms of a shocker of a run.
“I think they’ve decided that this rinse and repeat has to stop at some stage.”
Asked if the current away run wasn’t a ‘shocker’, he went on: “No, that is. But if you go on a run where you lose four in a row or whatever, it’s going to be difficult after that.
“I just feel that they believe in Clement. He’s got the January window, he says it’s going to take longer, he’ll have the summer window.
“I think he will still be there. It was never going to happen overnight. It wasn’t short-term, they’re trying to do it long-term.
“If that’s the case, you have to give him the time to do it.”
Another question was then put to Hutton, namely whether Clement was being afforded more patience than Gers managers before him.
“I think at some stage it has to change,” he replied. “I do understand.
“But at some stage you can’t just keep bringing in different. It has to change.
“I think they’ve pinned their hopes on Clement and hopefully giving him the time that he can turn it around.
“We are seeing bright sparks or periods of time where he’s done well but then there is a drop off.
“So he needs to make that squad more consistent on a regular basis.”
Is Philippe Clement a Rangers calibre manager?
Asked the above question, Michael Stewart said: “Was Steven Gerrard’s opening period not comparable to Pedro Caixinha?
“I’m just saying that everybody recognises that Rangers as a club are quite a distance away from Celtic, they admit that themselves in regards to what they’re capable of doing in the transfer market.
“They’re having to try and lower the wage bill and they’re trying to close a gap. It’s not an easy task.
“So when you ask the question ‘is Philippe Clement a top Rangers manager?’ You’re comparing things to a different period and when the baromoter of success was different.
“Rangers are having to recalibrate and you could argue that Clement isn’t of the calibre of previous Rangers managers, but it’s a difficult situation for everyone that’s involved at Rangers.
“Fan expectation is very high but the reality is Rangers aren’t on a level playing field with Celtic.
“A better question would be ‘Is Philippe Clement capable of bridging that gap?’ And I would say I’m unsure.”
