'Hell of a long way back' - David Edgar issues Clement exit verdict as Rangers fans turn

Philippe Clement’s plans at Rangers are not working and when a manager loses the fans it is a “hell of a long way back”, says David Edgar.

The man behind Heart & Hand Podcast reacted via X on 20 October as the Belgian’s Light Blues side succumbed to a 1-0 loss at Kilmarnock to lose more ground on Celtic and Aberdeen despite the pair dropping their first points of the season with a 2-2 draw a day earlier.

Another disappointing display at Rugby Park ended with Marley Watkins outmuscling John Souttar to slide an 87th-minute winner past Jack Butland and leave Rangers six points off the pace in third, just a point ahead of fourth-placed Dundee United.

Edgar’s verdict was damning as he insisted Clement’s tactics are having no effect and chaos amid the hierarchy can’t be blamed, writing: “Passive, slow, uninspired. No threat going forward and always capable of errors at back. The shambles at the club can’t mask that whatever Clement is trying doesn’t work.”

He went on to indicate the writing might be close to on the wall for the manager’s job, adding: “When fans give up on a manager it is a hell of a long way back.”

Rangers trail Celtic and Aberdeen by six points after loss

Alarm bells have to be ringing at Ibrox when any positive growth from Clement and his side in recent months seems to be cancelled out when it matters.

A run of domestic wins and an impressive away display in Europe to beat Malmo 2-0 on 26 September might have suggested the Belgian’s project was getting back on track after a summer transfer window that proved not to be the long-awaited answer to all the squad’s woes.

Even a heavy 4-1 loss to Lyon could have been taken on the chin if it weren’t for that fact that when the pressure is on this side is repeatedly found wanting.

A massive Old Firm derby on 1 September, Clement’s fifth attempt to get a win in the most crucial fixture, resulted in a 3-0 thrashing that was arguably worse than the result suggested, and the biggest opportunity yet to get back into a title race was squandered at the weekend.

Even a dull goalless draw at Hearts on the opening day, a chance to put down an early marker, is looking all the more disappointing when the Jambos sit second from bottom having picked up just four more points since.

In Clement’s defence has plenty to point to, including the state of the side he took over, the enforced budget constraints, the fact that new signings are young and need time to develop, as well as constant high-level resignations, to name just a few.

But it is increasingly difficult to point to what he is managing to achieve in the circumstances, when results have long since fallen away, key players such as James Tavernier have regressed, the signings he has made such as Robin Propper, and Vaclav Cerny, or even Mohamed Diomande are flattering to deceive, and even previous success stories such as Dujon Sterling aren’t making much difference.

A third sacking, and a fourth managerial change, in the now-yearly cycle would compound the same issues that had led to this point, but Clement is running out of arguments for why he should be the exception.

It is hard to see how the club can dispense with him as things stand so the chances are he will get the chance to turn things around, but if the fans are turning on him that is going to be an even tougher task.

In other Rangers news, Hugh Keevins denies a rival manager was his “informant” after a secret Gers failing was revealed.

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