Rangers could announce new manager within days as Philippe Clement twist emerges in last 24 hours
Rangers could be set to announce their preferred managerial candidate Philippe Clement as Michael Beale’s successor within days with a “concrete” proposal now already made.
The race for the Ibrox managerial hotseat has certainly been heating up over the past few days with a whole host of names in the frame to replace Beale.
AZ Alkmaar’s Pascal Jansen, Yokohama F. Marinos boss Kevin Muscat, Preston’s Ryan Lowe, Frank Lampard, Philippe Clement and Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes have all been linked with the vacant managerial post at Ibrox.
CEO James Bisgrove and chairman John Bennett are leading the process to find Beale’s successor after sacking the 43-year-old last Sunday 1 October following the defeat to Aberdeen with a decision expected towards the end of the international break [Chris Jack, 6 October].
Sky Sports also reported on 6 October that two names are the leading two candidates in the frame after Frank Lampard was ruled out of the running, with Clement and Muscat the frontrunners.
The British broadcaster reported on Friday (6 October) that the Light Blues are continuing to work through a managerial shortlist that has been in place for several months and are preparing to enter the final round of interviews from Monday (9 October) which may have suggested that Bisgrove may already have an idea of which candidate he wants in the Ibrox managerial hotseat.
And a breakthrough looked to have occurred on Tuesday (10 October) when news emerged from Saudi Arabia which claimed that the Light Blues presented a four-year offer to Clement to take over the vacant role [Al-Riyadiah, 10 October].
PLZ Soccer reported afterwards claiming that the Belgian manager was due in Scotland on Tuesday night to discuss terms.
However, that claim was immediately blown out of the water by Rangers Review journalist Chris Jack, who took to his personal Twitter account (10 October) to share that the Gers bosses have not made any final decision on any managerial candidate and talks remain ongoing.
However, in a new twist on Tuesday, it’s now been reported in Belgium that Rangers have made a “concrete” proposal to the former Monaco manager [Nieuwsblad Sport, 10 October] with a decision expected to be made very soon.
It may appear as if Rangers are telling their closest sources that no decision has been made but are working behind the scenes to appoint the Belgian manager as their preferred choice and what an intriguing appointment it could well be.
The next person in the dugout needs to be there for the long haul if the club are to have any chance of success on the pitch and it seems as if John Bennett and James Bisgrove have chosen Clement to be that man.
Clement was known for his attractive and progressive style of football in France, traits which the Gers fans are really desperate for right now and the Gers board certainly won’t want to be waiting too long before they kick off again against Hibernian on 21 October.
The new manager will need the time appropriate time to bed in, appoint his backroom staff and get to know his team properly before then for which an announcement could well be made in a matter of days. Encouraging development.
In other Rangers news, BBC presenter shares what he’s been told about Rangers manager hunt.