Knowing players is one thing, getting them to perform is another task entirely with Clement having to work with the current squad until January when the transfer window opens.
Last Friday Sky were explaining all about succession planning, now after a week spent in London while Kevin Muscat is in Japan that claim is starting to wear thin as genuine candidates shun the approaches from Ibrox with Graeme Souness supporting John Bennett and James Bisgrove.
Last season his best match was the Viaplay Cup Final in February where he spent an hour on the bench watching John Lundstram and Glen Kamara, not starting that match sent his profile sky high.
Group C couldn’t be any tighter, with all four teams locked on three points after two matches. A point in Prague? With home wins against Hibs and Hearts? Not too much of a stretch if you factor in the return of several players from injury and the ‘new manager bounce’.
Mixed messages are coming out about Clemente and Muscat, sending big Jonny McFarlane into a flap trying to reassure bears that everything is running smoothly, just as he did during the summer as he applied top spin to each of Beale’s maginificent signings.
From the 2022 intake the new boss will find Ben Davies, Rabbi Matondo and Ridvan Yilmaz on lucrative deals, topped up by Sam Lammers, Cyriel Dessers and Danilo while a scattering of free agents aren’t at Murray Park for the weather or playing golf.
There will be associated upgrades to the other facilities at Barrowfield but Health and Safety issues are reported to be preventing the development of a small capacity stadium to host SWPL and Lowland League matches.
The matter won’t become public until the start of December but Nicholson appeared adamant in his stance that there would be no away fans at the final match of 2023 despite a wishy washy SPFL rule of providing the away side with a reasonable ticket allocation.
The report claims that Rangers will offer Clement a heavily-incentivised four-year deal with the Ibrox club in the ‘next few hours in a meeting with the club president’ – with the boss GUARANTEED the four year’s cash unless a mutual termination is agreed.
A free kick was awarded, Souttar’s red face never changed in shade with his side going on to win the match 3-0 to join St Mirren in second place in the SPFL Premiership table.