Pundit tells Rangers to give Clement 'until Christmas' as Ibrox pressure mooted

Barry Ferguson has urged Rangers to give Philippe Clement until Christmas to prove himself at Ibrox amid suggestions the Belgian is under pressure.

The Light Blues headed into the October international break sat third in the Premiership table, five points adrift of both Celtic and Aberdeen following their comfortable 2-0 win over St Johnstone at Ibrox.

Fans have been quick to question whether Clement has taken the Gers forward since he arrived in Glasgow almost a year ago, but Go Radio pundit Ferguson insists that he and his new signings need time to get up to speed.

Speaking on The Go Radio Football Show (7 October, 10:30) he said: “Last night I was at the game and I’m sure if you listen to Philippe Clement after it, it wasn’t a brilliant performance.

“I think with the amount of signings that he’s made, we’re in the first week of October, I think you need to give it until Christmas time.

“You need to allow players time to settle in, I totally get that you don’t get time to settle in the west of Scotland.

“Could they be better? Yep, the manager has admitted that, but we just need to wait and see what the coming months bring.

“The positive that I look at from last night is another clean sheet domestically. It could have been a lot better. Good to see [Ianis] Hagi come on as well but obviously got sent off which is not ideal. Overall, I am not going to sit here and say everything is rosy in the garden but Rangers could be a lot better.

“They have to win. I know Derek said he doesn’t fancy them to win anything and I totally get that and that is his opinion. But Rangers have to win trophies this season.”

Will Philippe Clement exit Rangers amid Ibrox sack suggestions?

Ultimately every Rangers manager will be judged on what they win during their time at Ibrox and that will be the same when it comes to looking back at Clement’s reign.

If the Belgian can get to Christmas time with a League Cup medal around his neck, a place in the Europa League knockout stages and still be in a competitive place in the Premiership title race, he won’t be going anywhere.

But if results dwindle after the international break, he will of course find himself under some considerable pressure sooner rather than later. Clement will know that and so will the decision-makers at Ibrox.

They have stood by the Belgian in recent months, most notably with their decision to hand him a new contract on the eve of the new season, so it is unlikely that they will be desperate to make a change in the dugout.

Hopefully, Rangers will fly out of the blocks after the break and improve both their results and their performances.

In other Rangers news, Lennon Miller is ready to play for the Light Blues and the Gers have been told to go and get him

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