Clement sack: ‘No excuse’ for Rangers as Keith Jackson delivers new verdict
Rangers have “no excuse” for not sacking Philippe Clement, according to Keith Jackson.
Assessing Clement’s situation at Ibrox again, the Daily Record journalist said that the Belgian is not capable of getting his team selection or tactics right for the Light Blues.
He acknowledged that Clement has had to work out several restrictions this season, but insisted those “mitigating factors” do not exempt him from criticism.
“Do you have a manager that you trust to pick the right team, to get the tactics right to go out and win more games than he loses? Rangers don’t have that in Clement”, Jackson said on Daily Record’s Hotline Live (13 January).
“Yes, I get it. There are mitigating factors, they’ve taken some money off the wage bill, they’re trying to bring in younger, fresher assets, I get it all, but, the wage bill that they are running dwarfs everybody else in the country’s apart from Celtic’s.
“There is no excuse for having a manager, who even with cutbacks and cutting some costs… there is no excuse for having a manager, who isn’t capable of going into that squad, finding a team, fielding it and wiping the floor with everybody else.
“He [Clement] can’t do that either.”
Patrick Stewart to snub Keith Jackson advice in judging Philippe Clement at Rangers
Clement has been under pressure as the Rangers manager this season and, at times, it is a surprise to see him still in charge of the team.
We are 22 games into the Scottish Premiership season and the Gers find themselves sitting 15 points behind Celtic in second place.
There is no denying that the points difference is unacceptable even though they have had financial constraints.
Therefore, there is “no excuse” for the Glasgow giants to retain Clement’s services, as Jackson said. It would not be a surprise if there is fan unrest if the club decide to stick with the former Monaco boss beyond this season.
While new CEO Patrick Stewart is in the process of reviewing the Light Blues’ situation, he is unlikely to pull the plug on Clement for the time being.
That means the fans may have to brace themselves for some more frustrating away trips under the 50-year-old.
In other Rangers news, Andy Halliday is full of praise for the Gers after what he saw recently.
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