Rangers board 'hand Patrick Stewart immediate Philippe Clement sack decision'

Patrick Stewart’s first decision when he arrives as Rangers CEO will be whether to sack Philippe Clement or not, Chris Jack reports for The Rangers Review.

The ex-Man United executive begins his role on 16 December, the day after Rangers play Celtic in the League Cup final, is expected to spend the time between now and then focusing on the teams performance on the pitch ready for his arrival, with Tottenham another of the six games to be played.

With no notice period to serve Stewart is set to relocate to Scotland and will waste no time in addressing the Light Blues’ challenges, and with the board reportedly “not adopting a head in the sand approach” to the Belgian’s position an exit seems possible.

The Gers currently sit third in the Scottish Premiership, 11 points adrift of league leaders Celtic, after a frustrating 1-1 draw against Dundee United over the weekend, further compounding their struggles in the title race.

Clement’s position is under increasing scrutiny as Stewart and incoming chairman Malcolm Offord prepare to take charge at Ibrox. The Belgian’s future will therefore be a central issue as Stewart takes the reins, signalling a potential shift in the club’s willingness to make bold changes to improve results.

This comes after sources told the Football Insider Rangers will not make an immediate decision on sacking manager Clement.

Rangers should sack Philippe Clement

Football Insider Opinion

The Light Blues had seemed insistent on sticking with their embattled manager come what may as an increasingly-dismal season becomes a lost cause, but if his performance is actually a going concern for the new chief exec it could leave the door open for the campaign to be rescued.

Rangers’ season began poorly and has continued from there, including a massive setback when they were knocked out of the Champions League in the third qualifying round by Dynamo Kyiv.

Missing out on Europe’s premier competition not only hurt financially but also damaged the club’s prestige. Clement, brought in to deliver results on the biggest stages, failed at the first hurdle.

Fans endured another bitter pill in September when Celtic handed their team a humiliating 3-0. In a rivalry where bragging rights are everything, such a one-sided loss amplified frustrations and placed a spotlight on the team’s tactical shortcomings under the Belgian. That match alone showcased Rangers’ inability to match their fiercest rivals, both in quality and intensity.

The Glasgow side have already recorded three league defeats this season, an unacceptable tally for a team expected to challenge for the title. The lack of consistency has left the club languishing behind not just Celtic but nine points of second placed Aberdeen.

The disconnect between Clement’s leadership and the fanbase was evident this past weekend, as thousands of seats sat empty during the draw with Dundee United. The apathy among supporters reflects a broader frustration with the club’s direction under the 50-year-old manager.

In other news, an insider has backed Rangers to complete multiple loan signings in January.

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