Patrick Stewart concerns could emerge already after Rangers update
Rangers supporters won’t stand for the “condescending” comments made by Patrick Stewart on Philippe Clement’s future, Keith Jackson has warned.
Writing in the Daily Record (13 January), Jackson laid into a media briefing by the new CEO on Saturday, stating he wouldn’t make decisions that were “popular” for supporters.
With this being an obvious hint that the board would keep faith with Clement, Jackson demanded that the Ibrox hierarchy read the room, with concerns potentially facing Stewart already.
Jackson said: “By adopting an approach which sailed dangerously close to tipping towards condescending, Stewart managed to placate absolutely no one.
“If a 15-point gap at the top of the table is no longer a sacking offence then what does that say about how far standards have been allowed to drop under this regime?
“Likewise, if the CEO backs Clement one week then has to fire him the next, then the Rangers supporters will quite understandably have concerns and reservations about his own suitability for the job.”
Rangers results leave Patrick Stewart and co under pressure
For all that Clement has borne the brunt of fury and frustration from the likes of Jackson and others, supporters at Ibrox have turned plenty of their anger towards the Bears’ decision-makers.
Banners aplenty from the Union Bears and other swathes of fans have been spotted at both home and away matches in recent months, the vast majority being aimed at the hierarchy’s slipping standards.
Clement has even been labelled as a “scapegoat” for the board’s failings in the eyes of some supporters; the public face of a club which has fallen from grace and then some both on and off the pitch.
While the Belgian’s tactics deficiencies are a valid criticism – and have been exposed by several sides on the road in recent weeks – it’s clear he’s doing all he can to hold a ramshackle squad together.
However, should a sacking be in the pipeline for the 50-year-old, pressure from the stands at Ibrox will only increase, with few having faith in the current board to line up a successful succession plan.
In other Rangers news, the Bears missed out on appointing a highly-rated out-of-work manager after developments this week.
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