Peter Martin suggests Rangers can’t fund what Philippe Clement wants at Ibrox
Rangers will struggle to fund a new manager’s transfer budget after the club’s summer spending, according to Peter Martin.
Speaking on PLZ Soccer’s Football Show (12 October), Martin suggested that whoever the new boss is must attempt to improve the Michael Beale summer signings before he can be afforded a budget.
Martin backed Philippe Clement to take the role but feared that his desire for European talent could leave Rangers struggling to finance deals.
Martin said: “It’s the organisation’s biggest call coming up. For a manager, not for me the biggest decision. The biggest decision is, how do I fund this manager?
“If you’re inheriting a group of players that couldn’t beat Limassol, I mean it was an embarrassment. But if you’re inheriting that group, you have to try and get something out of them. He has to be given the chance to get funds.
“Here’s the big dilemma. I say they’re leaning towards Clement, Andy [Devlin] sees [Kevin] Muscat. The attraction of Muscat is they may think he might be able to get some of that market over in Asia which can come over and replicate what Ange Postecoglou has done.
“The negative for Clement is he’s maybe looking at the European market, Belgian, French, Dutch and players that he knows that might cost money.
“The big call for me is not only the manager, it’s how to fund the manager and I don’t know where they’re going to get that money.”
Balance
Rangers will be keen to spend as little money as possible following Michael Beale’s departure after their busy summer transfer window.
The profiles of players brought to the club very much fit the way that Beale wanted to play, but any new boss will have to deal with what he has until at least January. However, the club will be reluctant to spend too much unless they are truly convinced by the changes on the field.
Clement, as Martin noted, will likely desire European players considering his vast experience in the Belgian league with Club Brugge and Genk. Muscat meanwhile could offer Rangers a cheaper way to succeed if he can recruit from the wealth of high-potential talent in the J-League, where he currently manages Yokohama F. Marinos.
There is a need for balance between the desire for success and the need to limit spending. The hierarchy will have to determine in January if they believe more spending will bring success that season, but catching Celtic in the league already seems insurmountable while Europa League success is unlikely.
The League Cup offers the Gers their biggest chance of success, but even with the current squad, the club should be winning that trophy.
The hierarchy will not want to see this season as a write-off already, but mid-season spending could be a gamble.
In other Rangers news, a Belgian expert has shared the “latest information” on Clement to Ibrox as an “unknown” twist emerges.