Rangers board questioned by former Ibrox ace amid ‘absolute disgrace’
Rangers continue to maintain faith in Philippe Clement as questions rise over exactly why the Belgian is still in a job.
Clement’s side plumbed new depths in the form of Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Queen’s Park in the Scottish Cup at Ibrox, becoming the first-ever Rangers team to lose a home game to lower-league opposition.
Having already lost the League Cup final to Celtic in December and having a 13-point gap to make up behind their Old Firm rivals in the Premiership, the Bears have failed spectacularly on a domestic front.
Although the financial disparity between the Light Blues and Celtic is no secret, one former Ibrox star has questioned just how and why Clement and the Gers’ star has fallen to such an extent this season.
Rangers board slammed for stance on Philippe Clement sack
Speaking on the Craig Houston Talks To podcast (10 February), ex-Gers defender Hugh Burns didn’t hold back in his assessment of the “disgrace” his former side have become on and off the pitch.
Burns said: “We sit here the morning after the debacle, the embarrassment, the humiliation, of yesterday’s result in the Scottish Cup.
“What’s happening at Rangers is a million-dollar question. Where is all the money? Who’s there to answer these big questions?
“We’ve got a manager, allegedly we don’t have enough money in the bank to pay him off.”
“I think there have been things said behind the scenes that it doesn’t matter how this season is going, you’re not going to get sacked.
“The run in Europe is certainly going to save Clement a wee bit, but I think what’s happening right now is an absolute disgrace.”
Philippe Clement surely on borrowed time at Rangers
Debacle, embarrassment and humiliation are three very apt words to sum up how the Rangers fanbase feels about Sunday’s shock result in the cup, and at how poorly this season has gone for the Ibrox club.
Reaching the Europa League last 16 via qualifying in the top eight league phase places has been Clement’s one saving grace so far this term, but it remains to be seen if that spares him from the sack.
However, if the board’s difficult position of not having the finances to even pull the trigger proves to be true, it won’t come as a surprise to the Ibrox faithful if results continue to stagnate under the Belgian.
Clement – or any manager for that fact – knowing they’re safe in the job no matter what, is certainly an enviable position from the outside, but not one which forges much of a win-at-all-costs mentality.
Rangers certainly did their upmost to beat Queen’s Park, registering nine shots on target to the victors’ one, but their overall performances in several matches have been very run-of-the-mill.
Going through the motions should never be in the mentality of any player to pull on a light blue jersey, but if their manager is given the leeway to potentially just do that, it’s no wonder the Gers are floundering.