Exclusive: Rangers preparing to sack Philippe Clement

Rangers are stepping up plans to sack Philippe Clement in the wake of their defeat against Kilmarnock, sources have told Football Insider.

 

 

This is despite the board having awarded the manager a new contract during the summer transfer window, extending his Ibrox stay until 2028.

Sources close to the Rangers hierarchy have told Football Insider that results this season have not met the board’s expectations, with the club failing to win in six of their 14 games across all competitions following Sunday’s Premiership defeat to Kilmarnock.

 

This run has seen them crash out of the Champions League over two qualifying legs against Dynamo Kyiv, and they have also fallen six points behind both Celtic and Aberdeen at the top of the league.

There is now a growing feeling at Ibrox that Clement’s position is no longer secure, with the home crowd also becoming restless.

 

While sources say the manager’s departure is not imminent as things stand, the club are now edging closer to pulling the trigger amid growing pressure on his position.

This comes after Football Insider revealed in September that Clement would face “real pressure” from the board if he oversaw any more defeats in matches Rangers were expected to win.

 

Rangers board set to make Philippe Clement sack decision

John Bennett’s resignation due to health issues is also thought to have impacted Clement’s position, with potential new decision-makers adding to the tension.

It has been suggested by sources that new faces taking charge of the club may deem the 50-year-old unfit to lead the team after a series of frustrating results.

 

Pressure on the boss has been growing since a heavy defeat in the Old Firm derby earlier this season, and the latest defeat has come as another blow.

 

Celtic and Aberdeen drew 2-2 on 19 October, opening an opportunity for Rangers to close the gap with a win at Rugby Park, but they failed to find the net and lost late on.

While there has been an acceptance that conditions at Ibrox have been far from ideal for the boss, the lack of inspiration and the level of performances from his team could now force the club’s top brass into a decision.