BBC Sport journalist shares Rangers board ‘concern’ with ‘frontrunner’ Philippe Clement
The Rangers board may be concerned that Philippe Clement’s stint as Monaco manager was a “step too far,” according to BBC Sport journalist Nick McPheat.
The publication noted that the boss is the “frontrunner” for the vacant managerial role at Ibrox following the departure of Michael Beale.
Beale was sacked by the club earlier this month, with midfielder Steven Davis currently in charge on an interim basis.
“While reported frontrunner Philippe Clement is an outsider in Scottish football terms, the Belgian must have a huge drive to succeed in Govan if rumours of turning down a lucrative job in Saudi Arabia in favour of a move to Rangers are true,” McPheat wrote for BBC Sport.
“Clement also boasts domestic success, winning the Belgian top flight in three straight seasons with two separate clubs – one with Genk in 2018-19 followed by back-to-back titles at Club Brugge.”
“But the concern for the Ibrox board will be if the 49-year-old’s step up to Monaco was a step too far. His only full season with the Ligue 1 club ended in a sixth-placed finish before departing in June.”
Massive decision
The Rangers board have a massive decision to make, and it is therefore understandable that they are taking their time on it.
Fortunately time is on their side, with an international break currently in play, meaning there is no club football until later this month.
That should give the powers that be at Ibrox enough time to appoint a suitable replacement for Beale, one that knows what it takes to succeed and indeed has the ability to last for a long time in the dugout at Glasgow.
There will be pros and cons to appointing Clement, but that will be the case for every manager that is being considered, with seemingly no perfect option available at this moment in time.
The board must ensure, however, that the next person in the dugout is a step up from Beale, with the glory days of Steven Gerrard wanted back on Ibrox as soon as possible.
In other Rangers news, a delay may hit the club’s hunt for a new manager this week, according to Sky Sports.