Philippe Clement explains Rangers loan stance on Robby McCrorie in January after discussions take place
Philippe Clement insists it has never been the plan for goalkeeper Robby McCrorie to depart Rangers on loan during the transfer window.
The 25-year-old has found playing time hard to come by this season due to the excellent form of summer signing Jack Butland.
It has led to suggestions that McCrorie could leave Ibrox in order to establish himself as a first-choice goalkeeper elsewhere but Rangers boss Clement says there was no chance of that happening this winter and said talks were held with the player over the situation prior to the mid-season break.
In quotes reported by the Daily Record’s print edition on Wednesday (24 January, page 50), Clement said: “How can you put now, with nine days to go, a player on loan if you don’t have another keeper in?
“It was never the plan. It was clearly discussed with Robby before the winter break.”
That’s settled
This really is a tough one, because on the one hand you have to have sympathy with the player who will be desperate to play and establish himself as a number one, but at the same time understand the club’s stance too.
Being a goalkeeper is extremely difficult because only one can play, so it means someone has to warm the bench and don the gloves for more low-key fixtures as was the case when McCrorie featured against Dumbarton in the Scottish Cup last time out.
Rangers may have a different decision to make in the summer because McCrorie cannot keep being a bench warmer but to let him go, either on loan or permanently, now would be a huge mistake as the club needs an able back-up to Butland.
What I love about Clement is how decisive he is with these situations. He clearly decided he needed McCrorie, spoke to the player about it, and in his mind that’s it dealt with. For my money, it’s absolutely the right decision too.
In other Rangers news, talks are reportedly at the final stages for a different player to depart Ibrox.
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