Chris Jack of the Rangers Review has reported that Philippe Clement has been sacked.
At 8pm on Sunday there was no word from the club to confirm the news but there is no reporter closer to the news cycle out of Ibrox than Jack who covers the 2012 Tribute Act for a variety of Newsquest publications.
Normally a report so sure from a respected source will appear minutes before the club announcement but there appears to be a bit of a time lag on tonight’s developments.
It looks very much like pressure is being applied on Clement to accept an offer to step away from the job he took on in October 2023 from Micky Beale without having his contract paid up.
Since going four away matches without a win either side of a 3-0 win over Celtic Clement has been a dead man walking or if you prefer on borrowed time.
Since losing to Dinamo Kiev in the Champions League Third round qualifier and following that up with a 3-0 defeat at Celtic Park it has looked highly unlikely that the Belgian Beale would get far into his extended contract that runs until May 2028.
That contract was signed with John Bennett as Chairman and no CEO, Patrick Stewart and Fraser Thornton are now in those roles and will have to deal with the contract issue.
The Sun recently claimed that Clement will be due just £1.2m if he is sacked, that seems unlikely with his salary likely to be in the region of £2m a year.
A caretaker looks likely to be in the dug-out against Kilmarnock on Wednesday night, ironically Derek McInnes isn’t short of media backers to take on the job at Ibrox.
Around 6pm on the Rangers Review Jack writes:
Rangers have sacked boss Philippe Clement after the 2-0 defeat to St Mirren that sparked furious scenes amongst supporters at Ibrox.
The beleaguered Belgian saw his side come under a barrage of friendly fire from the stands in the aftermath of a shock defeat on Saturday. Stephen Robinson’s side were deserved winners as second-half goals from Mikael Mandron and Toyosi Olusanya earned the visitors their first win in Govan since November 1991.
Clement was publicly backed by Patrick Stewart earlier this week as the chief executive officer pointed to his record in continental competition and the upcoming fixtures in the Europa League. It seemed likely that Clement would get the chance to guide his side into the knockout rounds against Fenerbahce next month.
But the Rangers Review understands he has now been removed from office just days after news broke about a potential takeover by 49ers Enterprises. The American consortium – headed by Paraag Marathe and Andrew Cavenagh – are aiming to secure a majority stake in Rangers and clear out the Ibrox boardroom.
And Clement will have no part to play in that future after seeing his tenure brought to an end by the current Ibrox hierarchy. The decision comes just hours after Clement put the ball in the board’s court after being quizzed over his future.
The release of the story could be aimed at pressurising Clement into resigning or accepting the severance deal being offered.
Every comment from him has suggested that he is in this for the long term, if the club want to ditch his exciting project he will be required to be paid in full, either as a one off or sent to his Belgian garden.
RELATED READING
