‘Philippe Clement could resign at Rangers’ – Ibrox chiefs told ‘sort it out’
Rangers manager Philippe Clement is once again under immense sack pressure after a historic low for the Glasgow giants.
Football Insider revealed on Monday (10 February) that Clement is now once again fighting for his job at Ibrox after the Scottish Cup loss against Queen’s Park.
The defeat was Rangers’ first against their Glasgow neighbours since 1882 and effectively ends their hunt for domestic silverware with the gap to Celtic in the Scottish Premiership now at 13 points.
Aberdeen’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004, had lengthy spells as the chief of Everton and Aston Villa and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – claimed he felt “sorry” for the Belgian boss after the result.
‘Rangers board have got to sort themselves out’, says Wyness
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted Clement could resign at the end of the season with the atmosphere now “toxic” at Ibrox.
He also called on the Rangers board and CEO Patrick Stewart to get the club prepared off the pitch for the manager to depart.
Wyness insisted the “level of vitriol” Clement is getting will inform his decision to walk away from Ibrox.
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “I felt sorry for Clement.
“Rangers losing to Queen’s Park was amazing.
“It’s a long, long time ago that it last happened. Rangers had 30 shots on goal that didn’t go in, it can happen – it’s a great cup upset.
“Celtic had a similar thing with Inverness a while back.
“Clement, I still believe is doing the right job. But there’s no doubt that the level of vitriol he is getting after this result will probably mean he does until the end of the season and then leaves.
“He’ll be thinking: ‘This place is not pleasant anymore, I’m going to have to go.’
“I don’t know how many times I’ve said this, but the Rangers board have got to sort themselves out.
“The CEO has to finish his review, they need people in place at Murray Park.
“I would hope Clement will stay with them, but I think it’s getting too toxic. The Rangers fans can be very nasty.”
Rangers set to open crunch Hagi talks
Meanwhile, Football Insider revealed on 9 February that Rangers are set to enter new Ianis Hagi contract talks in the weeks following the January transfer window.
He has worked his way back into Clement’s plans and has established himself as a valuable option.
Hagi had a wage-increase clause in his contract which played a part in his initial expulsion from the squad, but a compromise was reached that allowed him back into the fold.
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