Rangers patience in short supply as Clement sack verdict shared before Hearts game
Rangers manager Philippe Clement is certainly under pressure going into this weekend’s game against Hearts.
The Gers head coach has managed to keep hold of his job despite falling to a shock Scottish Cup defeat against Queens Park on Sunday (9 February).
Patrick Stewart has since revealed that the Belgian hadn’t remained in the Ibrox dugout for financial reasons which begs the question of why he hasn’t been sacked already.
Looking ahead to a trip to Tynecastle, there is every chance that the Light Blues’ boss could come under even more pressure if his side don’t secure a positive result.
Barry Ferguson questions Philippe Clement future at Rangers
There is no doubt that the ex-Monaco manager needs a positive result against Hearts or seriously risks losing his job in Govan.
Supporters are already at the end of their tether and many are questioning why the sack trigger hasn’t been pulled already.
This could be set to impact the away atmosphere against the Jambos as the Gers faithful look set to travel in large numbers once again.
Former Light Blues captain Barry Ferguson knows that fans will be angry as the Belgian arguably should have lost his job already.
Writing for the Daily Record (14 February), he said: “The first problem for Clement and the players is that they’ll [the fans] be bringing their anger with them all the way across the M8.
“I’ll be honest, he could have been out of a job already given the nature of the defeat which means Rangers are now looking at a trophyless domestic season. That has simply never been acceptable. And it never can be.
“Yes, fans understand their team is in a transitional season. The wage bill has been cut, they get that too because the club is going through a period of change. But what they won’t accept is seeing their team being humiliated.
“And that’s why patience will be in short supply this weekend in Edinburgh. Clement and his players owe them a response. The only way back for them now is to win as many games as possible between now and the end of the season – and even that might not be enough.
“Obviously the manager is going nowhere for the time being. But he has to prove he is capable of moving the team back in the right direction if he’s to stay in charge for the long haul. And he hasn’t exactly helped himself with some of the decisions made from halftime onwards in Sunday’s defeat.”
Philippe Clement could face Rangers sack after Hearts clash
Given that Neil Critchley’s side currently sit seventh in the Scottish Premiership, there is no true reason why the Gers shouldn’t be taking three points from Tynecastle.
With Lawrence Shankland off the boil this campaign, the Jam Tarts have struggled to perform as well as they have in seasons gone by which should fall into the Light Blues’ hands.
Despite this, there is every chance that Clement’s side struggle once again and if that is the case, it could be curtains for the Belgian.
It is highly unlikely that any supporters at Ibrox would be against this decision given how frustrating his reign as head coach has been.
It will certainly be interesting to see what happens against Hearts and whether the manager can survive in his role in the Ibrox dugout.