Keith Jackson fires ‘flawed’ Stewart dig in ‘toxic’ Clement Rangers sack verdict
Patrick Stewart’s decision-making will now be called into question should Philippe Clement be sacked if Rangers lose to Aberdeen on Wednesday, Keith Jackson has said.
Pressure is building on the Belgian as the Light Blues welcome the Dons to Ibrox on 15 January, though the team’s home performances have not been adding to the current issues in recent weeks.
The away form is what has seen the Gers slip further and further behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership table, though Jimmy Thelin’s side have been known to cause an upset, which could end Clement’s spell at Ibrox.
Speaking via the Daily Record’s Hotline Live [14 January], Jackson said: “The reaction to Rangers failing to take three points tomorrow night, should that come, will be absolutely toxic.
“Patrick Stewart is an experienced, intelligent guy. But I fail to see the tactical strategy of backing Clement one week knowing if things don’t work out, one week, two weeks, three weeks later, you have to reverse ferret on what you said, what you communicated to the fans, and then pull the trigger.
“That makes his judgement look questionable and flawed.”
Philippe Clement to finally be sacked if Rangers lose to Aberdeen?
Jackson makes a rather interesting point. The majority of fans expected Stewart’s first decision in charge as CEO to sack the manager, but he has remained trustful of the Belgian.
That could already seal his downfall as a senior figure in Glasgow, with supporters now feeling a mass walkout at Ibrox is the only way to get their feelings across to the CEO.
As already discussed, home form is not so much an issue for the Gers, and with Aberdeen winless in 11 matches, it should be an easier victory than many fans are expecting.
However, if the worse is to happen and the Dons flip the script on Clement’s team, the overall feeling will be that Clement no longer has any lives left at Ibrox, leaving Stewart with just one decision to make.
Should he finally sack the manager after months of pressure, it would raise questions over why he stayed so loyal despite so much frustration and calls out for his sacking.
By doing this, he has already put himself on the backfoot with the supporters.
In other Rangers news, Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen have planned for a defender’s loan, with six clubs lining up for his signature.
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