Credit: Imago

Jonathan Burnett

Sat 22 February 2025 10:40, UK

Philippe Clement’s future at Rangers is still up in the air as takeover talks with 49ers Enterprises take centre stage at Ibrox.

Much of the narrative this season has been dominated by Clement’s job security in the Ibrox dugout, with his Rangers side faltering massively on the domestic front and languishing 13 points behind Celtic.

The Belgian has arguably been on the brink of the sack – or at least should have been – following several low points so far this term, the lowest of which was their shock Scottish Cup defeat to Queen’s Park.

However, the Rangers board, which has itself undergone plenty of change this season, have stuck by Clement and plan to do so for the rest of the season; and the reason for this could now be made clear.

Andy Newport fears for Philippe Clement future at Ragers

With 49ers Enterprises entering the fray in Govan and the prospect of a majority buyout becoming a very real scenario in the past few days, Clement’s position is once again set to come under the microscope.

Writing for the Daily Record‘s Saturday Jury (22 February), Andy Newport suggested that the Rangers board keeping faith in Clement despite their poor campaign makes sense during the takeover talks.

Newport said “I can’t say it looks promising for the Belgian. The current board’s decision to keep him on suddenly makes sense with a takeover on the horizon.

“It’s time for fresh energy at the club, and that goes for the dugout as well as boardroom.”

Philippe Clement surely on borrowed time at 49ers–led Rangers

Clement has been given the benefit of the doubt by the vast majority of those associated with Rangers so far this season, despite many supporters accepting that he’s not the man to take them forward.

Fans, however, have made clear in the form of various banners and protests that Clement is merely carrying the can for an incompetent Ibrox boardroom, becoming the public face of their many failures.

That could all be about to change in the coming months, though, and if 49ers Enterprises do complete their takeover in time to oversee a full off-season this summer, mass changes could be on the horizon.

Gers fans will look to Paraag Marathe and Co’s activity in their first summer at Leeds United as a basis, in which they hired a new manager in Daniel Farke and tried to steady the ship following Leeds’ relegation.

The waters aren’t expected to be as choppy once the 49ers take charge at Ibrox, but with Clement failing to mount a successful domestic challenge this season, it’s likely one of their first moves will be to make a change in the dugout with a view to toppling Celtic once again.