Rangers: Jack Butland questioned by Tom English over fan confrontation footage for BBC Sport
Jack Butland has told Tom English that the Rangers fan who confronted him after the loss to Aberdeen earlier this season is “happy now”.
The Ibrox keeper was asked by the BBC Sport journalist (23 February) about footage of him attempting to placate an upset supporter outside the ground after the 3-1 defeat [The National, 2 October], a day before Michael Beale was sacked, and accepted the situation was “fine” but would have preferred not to have been filmed.
But he revealed he has seen the same fan a number of times since, who is far more satisfied in the context of the marked turnaround under Philippe Clement.
English asked: “There’s a video I saw the other night, after you lost 3-1 to Aberdeen, and a fan kind of grabbed you after that 3-1 loss and he wasn’t happy. A) Does that seem like a million years ago? And B) How did you feel in that moment?”
Butland answered: “Regardless, win, lose or draw, I always stop and sign stuff for the kids and things like that afterwards, and all the rest of it, and there just happened to be a few fans that wanted a little bit more contact, which is fine.
“Happy to speak to them, always, but sometimes there’s no need for camera phones and stuff like that. We had a good chat.”
“I imagine if you bumped into that same guy today you probably…” English started before Butland cut in, “I’ve bumped into him a few times since, yeah. He’s happy now.”
“He’s a lot to be happy about,” added English.
Jack Butland admits Rangers fan is no longer upset
It is less than five months since the home defeat which spelled the end of Beale’s time in charge at Ibrox, and the direction of travel has been hugely encouraging.
Since Clement took over it is only the controversial 2-1 loss to Celtic at Parkhead that hasn’t gone to plan, as the Viaplay Cup has been won and a seven point deficit to the Hoops at the top of the SPFL at that stage has been turned into a two-point lead.
There is still a long way to go but it is no surprise that the same fan’s view has since changed, as most will have.
It won’t mean much unless Butland, Clement, and the Rangers players can see it through but it is essentially so far, so good for the Belgian.
The English keeper’s form has been a big part of that, and explains why the club immediately rejected a transfer offer from Nottingham Forest last month [STV, 30 January], and why he is in line for an England recall, as part of a highly-impressive debut season in Scotland.
In other Rangers news, Clement has issued a new Ibrox stance on Hearts star Lawrence Shankland.
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