Rangers manager Philippe Clement issues Graeme Souness confirmation
Rangers manager Philippe Clement has addressed speculation that Graeme Souness played a role in bringing him to the club.
Daily Record reported on 8 October that the club had called on their former player to have talks with the desired candidates ahead of making the decision.
Clement confirms that it did indeed take place at one stage of talks after which others stepped in as well.
Clement told Sky Sports, “It’s true Graeme (Souness) was there in the first talks to go in-depth about football, the details of the team and the fans. What people expect, later on there were several other people involved. I gathered enough information to make a good decision.
“If you make major changes directly, you make people more nervous than they are already. We have to take it step-by-step, to implement all my philosophy of football in five days is impossible. Not here, also not in my other clubs before.”
Right move?
Perhaps the club turned to Sounness as they wanted advice on what’s gone wrong with their last two managerial appointments.
Given his experience in the game, he would’ve had a different perspective on things and the board may have gone down a different route otherwise.
Regardless, Clement is the man they’ve chosen and they’ve got to build a structure around him to ensure that they can get the best out of him.
He’s certainly a talented manager who’s achieved success at different clubs and there’s no reason to think he can’t or won’t at Ibrox.
Celtic do have a big lead as things stand but these things can change really quickly and it remains to be seen what sort of impact he has.
In the short term, improving the style of football along with individual players may be the best way to judge his efforts.
In other Rangers news, Celtic have made a decision are set to respond to Gers’ proposal amid ‘Growing Discord’ behind the scenes.