Ferguson shares if Philippe Clement will be sacked before Rangers v Hearts
Barry Ferguson has not held back in his latest comments about Rangers and Philippe Clement.
The former Gers captain has reacted to the latest sack calls on the Belgian, whose job may be hanging by a thread following the Scottish Cup upset by Queen’s Park at Ibrox on Sunday (9 February).
Clement takes his side to Hearts on Sunday in a return to Scottish Premiership action after blowing their chance at domestic silverware this season.
Clement would have been sacked on Sunday
Ferguson has been critical of Clement in recent months and has admitted that if the board were going to sack the manager, it would have come straight after the embarrassing cup defeat.
Queen’s Park won 1-0 with their only shot on target at Ibrox as James Tavernier missed a last-gasp penalty to ensure the Glasgow minnows advanced to the next round.
Ferguson, speaking on the Go Radio Football Show (12 February), has branded the recent developments at Rangers as “disastrous” and a “hammer blow”.
“He’ll be in charge on Sunday at Tynecastle – if anything was going to happen, it would’ve been straight after the game. But it was a disastrous result, the performance was way off the levels expected,” the ex-skipper conceded.
“Rangers just didn’t have the quality to bring them down, they were devoid of answers in the final third, and they only raised their game after Queen’s Park scored.
“That’s the trophy you want to get your hands on, when Celtic are 13 points clear in the league. It was a hammer blow, and fans have got every right to be disappointed, devastated or whatever. It’s just not good enough.”
Rangers only have pride left to play for
In the one final modicum of excitement left of this season for Rangers fans, they will discover their Europa League last 16 opponents next Friday (21 February).
The Light Blues’ victory over Union Saint-Gilloise (30 January) did ensure a top-eight place in the league phase, a nice surprise in a torrid campaign by the standards at Ibrox.
Other than their lofty European ambitions – which have a right to dare to dream after what happened in 2022 – it is only pride that Rangers have left.
They will finish second in the league, no more no less, no matter what.
Clement is clinging onto his employment and has had several close shaves this season, but that comes in the eyes of the support base.
The hierarchy with the power to enforce change has publicly backed the 50-year-old – namely Patrick Stewart, whose reputation as CEO dwindled with the announcement some weeks ago.
Rangers now prepare to return to Tynecastle, where they began the season back on 3 August with a goalless draw against Hearts – and the pressure is on as the fans wait in anticipation.