Keevins: Rangers cursed by 'emotional bankruptcy', Clement could be gone by October

Philippe Clement could face the sack at Rangers as early as October if he fails to beat Celtic in the first Old Firm derby at the start of September, Kevin Keevins has said.

The journalist was writing in his Daily Record column (18 August) and suggested defeat to their rivals might mean there is more chance he does not see the first anniversary of his Ibrox appointment than there is he sees out the remainder of his surprise new contract to June 2028.

Keevins wrote that the Gers are currently plagued by “emotional bankruptcy” with supporters disillusioned with the club’s hierarchy.

But he added that Clement himself has to shoulder some of the blame after “baffling” supporters and pundits alike with some of his team selections.

He wrote: “If Philippe Clement loses to Celtic on September 1, the question to be answered is whether he will still be Rangers’ manager come his first anniversary in the job on October 15. And not whether he sees out the lifetime of his recently-signed contract extension.

“No manager remains in place in defiance of the fans wishes. And no club like Rangers flourishes at the same time as ignoring thousands of unoccupied seats at a game left empty by supporters as evidence of their alienation. Rangers’ situation is now, to my way of thinking, worse than it was when the club went into administration, then liquidation, in 2012. This time they are cursed by emotional bankruptcy and not the financial kind.”

He added: “The manager doesn’t help himself, of course. Team selection has baffled fans, former players in the punditry business and onlookers in general.

“A tendency to over-think, and ultimately muddy any situation relative to the team is then followed by his capacity to take confusion to an even higher level when Clement attempts to explain himself in post-match press conferences.”

Philippe Clement facing a big month at Rangers

The Groundhog Day scenario at Rangers is becoming pretty tiresome and you really do have to feel for one of the most loyal fanbases in world football for the perpetual cycle of chaos.

Muddled thinking of transfer direction has left the squad looking light on quality and reliant on gambles for the future. There are still a couple of weeks to sort it but boy do they need to get a crack on now.

On the pitch, a disappointing Champions League exit to Dynamo Kyiv has really upped the pressure on Clement. That new contract will count for little if supporters start baying for blood, and the goodwill he earned from a promising start has fast diminished.

If the Gers go to Celtic on 1 September and fall to defeat then the noises of dissent are going to grown even louder there is no doubt about that.

But, on the flip side, the Gers can’t keep firing managers surely? They can’t constantly be in a process of playing catch up. There is a demoralising air about the place at the minute, something needs to change the mood and quickly.

In other Rangers news, one pundit was fuming with one Gers star did versus St Johnstone.

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