Keevins: Clement Rangers job would've been hanging by thread if Celtic did what they should've

Philippe Clement’s long-term Rangers future looks uncertain after his side’s Old Firm defeat to Celtic, according to Hugh Keevins.

Writing in the Daily Record (8 September), Keevins said the Gers were lucky to only lose 3-0 at Celtic Park, and that a greater margin could have left Clement on the verge of the sack.

He also noted that Clement’s hosting of an upcoming question-and-answer session on 10 September couldn’t have come at a worse time, as questions aplenty arise over the quality of the his team.

Keevins said: “I would have thought, under current circumstances, the manager’s first target on a personal basis would have been to remain in work for the duration of the league championship.

“If Celtic had won by the margin they should have done last weekend – and doubled their 3-0 win to a watershed scoreline with far-reaching consequences – Clement’s employment prospects would have been left hanging by a thread.”

Philippe Clement must address Rangers slide to stay in a job

Leading an overdue and widespread overhaul of his existing squad this summer, Clement has built a Gers side largely in his own image, and thus the buck stops with him after 1 September’s Old Firm thrashing.

The humiliating 3-0 defeat to their Glasgow rivals is by far the heaviest of Clement’s reign, with Celtic’s three previous victories from four attempts (the other a 3-3 draw at Ibrox) being by a single goal.

Rangers managers are measured on their results against Celtic, and so far, the Belgian has zero wins from five attempts; the latest suggesting that his side are going backwards compared to their rivals.

The onus therefore rests on Clement to keep pace with the Hoops in the Premiership title race until their next meeting in January 2025, with his team already five points behind Celtic and Aberdeen at the top.

New arrivals, such as £3.3million Deadline Day signing Nedim Bajrami, are yet to be tried and tested, and Clement must get his new-look side ready to compete on all fronts if he wants to be in post much longer.

In other Rangers news, the Four Lads have taken aim at the Ibrox boardroom with a plethora of vacancies still to be filled at the club.

For more Rangers news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.

The post Keevins: Clement Rangers job would've been hanging by thread if Celtic did what they should've appeared first on Ibrox News.