Jonny McFarlane has admitted that Phil Clement isn’t capable of winning the SPFL Premiership title.
As Head of Digital Sport at Newsquest the Rangers Review is very much big Jonny’s baby, outdoing the Succulent Lamb days in return for some crumbs of good news to take on In The Know status.
Since launch in July 2021 the Rangers Review has provided sugar-coated coverage, spinning for the van Bronckhorst and Beale Revolutions before swinging full on behind Mister Clement.
A Proper Football Manager was the message, 12 months ago he was being tipped to win a quadruple but this morning there is a gap of 15 points to the Most Successful Team in Scotland in the SPFL Premiership table.
After backing Clement all the way the credibility of the Rangers Review is under scrutiny, McFarlane and Josh Barrie are under contract but Derek Clark and Stevie Clifford are prone to independent thoughts as contributors to the digital site.
The thing that annoys me after listening to his press conference is he blamed everyone but himself. He has had all season to improve away results and can’t do it. He takes no responsibility at all.
I can’t see how he should stay, but I don’t think we will sack him either. 🙁
— Joe ‘wotta’ Anderson 🏴⚽️🎮 (@_wotta) January 10, 2025
Earlier McFarlane retweeted a video clip from Chris Jack of a certain chant from the away fans at full time.
The reaction from the Rangers fans… pic.twitter.com/h6krgrsn5X
— Chris Jack (@Chris_Jack89) January 9, 2025
🗣️ “You’re confident that [the board] are still behind you?”
🗣️ “200 percent, yes.”
Philippe Clement insists he retains the backing of the Rangers board after more dropped points in Dundee.
— The Rangers Review (@RangersReview55) January 9, 2025
You can only spin and deny reality so much. A 15 point deficit in January is impossible to avoid created by away form that has yielded 13 points from 11 matches. From 10 away games Celtic have picked up 25 points.
Clement has waffled his way through media conferences avoiding any worthwhile questioning. Sports Scientists, VAR, referees, injuries and Celtic are shuffled around while clinging onto a claim about building an exciting young team
For months the excuse thrown up by many fans is that their club can’t afford to sack Clement, now the question is that they can’t afford not to sack him.
Sunday’s crowd at Ibrox for the visit of St Johnstone is likely to be around the 30,000 mark, an official attendance of 47,831 will be announced but it’s not hard to count empty blue seats.
Massively reduced matchday income streams will have an impact on the club, in January the Scottish Cup is the only trophy prospect still open with Celtic on course to lift their trophy tally to 119.
Season Ticket renewals are the lifeblood of the 2012 Tribute Act, around the end of April each year the campaign is launched to get fans to pay up for the following season.
If Clement is anywhere near that campaign it will be the hardest of hard sells.
A return to the core values of the support is needed which puts Alex Rae, Barry Ferguson and Derek McInnes at the front of the queue as successors.
McInnes’ long term contract at Kilmarnock looks to be an obvious problem which leaves it as a straight choice between the other two or possibly a Management Dream Team that will make up for their lack of ability with commitment.
Rae has failed badly in management at Dundee and St Mirren with Fergie flopping at Clyde and Alloa.
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