Andy Newport shares what he found odd at Clement Rangers Q&A

Andy Newport found it odd that questions around Hamza Igamane and Ianis Hagi were not asked at a Rangers Q&A session featuring Philippe Clement and James Tavernier.

In his column on page 50 of the Daily Record’s print edition [12 September], the reporter commented as Tuesday night’s fan forum at New Edmiston House saw the manager and captain answer prepared questions written by supporters.

Newport listed some of the pressing concerns from the fanbase in recent weeks, which to his puzzlement were not asked.

“Oddly, some of the more probing questions on his team’s never-ending injury issues, the decision to invest some of the club’s precious few millions into a project player like Hamza Igamane rather than the proven striker his squad has been crying out for, or why Ianis Hagi is good enough for Romania but apparently not for Rangers, failed to make it out of the hat,” he wrote.

“Maybe it was just the luck of the draw…”

Rangers gloss over probing questions at Q&A

With Newport describing that Clement had the gathering of supporters at Ibrox “eating out of his hand” on Tuesday night, it is a polar opposite to what he and his skipper notably had to deal with upon returning from their dismal defeat at Celtic Park nearly a fortnight ago.

The beauty of Q&A sessions and fans’ forums as a club is the control over steering the narrative, and avoiding uncomfortable or inexplicable topics.

Consider it much the same as when you listen to a manager or player interview with the club channels after a defeat – the internal press are colleagues and will not level the tough asks at figureheads of the club; the local and national journalists will, or at least it’s in their remit.

Realistically, Clement was never going to bat off pressing questions about team selection or the Hagi saga – particularly as finances play a part in the latter – neither was Tavernier going to be forced into slating his own teammates four league games into an already rough season.

The atmosphere can continue to repair itself with victory at Tannadice over Dundee United this coming Sunday, but the hosts will make matters as difficult as possible throughout the afternoon.

In other Rangers news, concerns build over Jack Butland.

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