Philippe Clement sack: Stewart ‘decision made’ at Rangers in Celtic claim
Patrick Stewart has not sacked Rangers boss Philippe Clement due to the financial disparity with Celtic, Keith Jackson says.
The Daily Record journalist believes the Gers’ new chief executive officer may have held off from firing the Belgian manager as he struggles to compete with Brendan Rodgers’ team.
While the Hoops have flexed their financial muscles in recent transfer windows, Clement has had to work on a constrained budget.
Jackson wrote in the Daily Record (27 January): “So, while Clement is scratching around in the bargain basement, attempting to source some odds and ends, Celtic are flexing their huge financial muscle and ensuring that the Belgian is effectively trying to shove water up a hill.
“It’s getting close to becoming an impossible task which is maybe why Stewart chose not to pull the trigger on Clement after taking over his position last month.
“Perhaps he has concluded the club is in such a state of deep decline that simply changing the man at the wheel won’t make any discernible difference to the general direction of travel.”
Philippe Clement sack decision pays off after Patrick Stewart Rangers call
The former Monaco head coach took over after the Light Blues struggled under Michael Beale.
After the 50-year-old arrived in the Ibrox dugout, the tide seemed to have turned for the Glaswegian outfit, but things deteriorated at the start of this season.
The Bears are 10 points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, and they don’t look likely to win the title in the current campaign.
Rangers have performed better in recent matches, but Clement has had to work with a depleted squad.
Despite the winter transfer window ongoing, the Gers have only signed Rafael Fernandes as they try to cope with multiple injury issues in defence.
The Light Blues could arguably do with some reinforcements before 3 February, but it doesn’t look like the Glaswegian outfit has the means to do any meaningful business.
In the meantime, their Old Firm rivals have made some big-money signings in Arne Engels, Adam Idah and Auston Trusty this season.
The gulf between the two teams has been evident for quite some time, and how Stewart will manage to change things at Ibrox remains to be seen.
In other Rangers news, the appeal to overturn Mohamed Diomande’s red card will fail after a crazy admission.
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