Derek McInnes responds to Philippe Clement sacking and those Rangers links that won’t go away

Derek McInnes has seen his fair share of Rangers managers of the years but the Kilmarnock boss has never faced off against Barry Ferguson.

The Kilmarnock manager finds himself cast into the limelight as Rangers look to face off against the Ayrshire side in what will be Barry Ferguson’s first match as interim Ibrox boss.

Derek McInnes has masterminded a number of positive results against Rangers in recent seasons and will be hoping to add insult to injury at Rugby Park.

But before the two former Rangers teammates butt heads in Kilmarnock, Derek McInnes has paid tribute to the outgoing Philippe Clement.

Derek McInnes hails ‘class’ act Philippe Clement

In glowing comments, Derek McInnes hailed Philippe Clement’s contribution to Rangers and claims the Belgian ‘acted with a lot of class and dignity’ in a tumultuous spell at Ibrox.

”I think it’s not unusual in the sense that throughout my career as manager you come up against teams that have just made a change,” McInnes told Sky Sports.

”Always disappointed to see a manager lose his job and Philippe Clement, obviously the decision to remove him.

“I think it’s always sad to see a manager lose his job as I say. I thought he handled the job well, I thought he acted with a lot of class and dignity.

”It’s always as I say a shame to see a manager go but such is the context of our jobs that sometimes if the demand isn’t met then changes come.”

Derek McInnes on ‘fiercely competitive’ Barry Ferguson

And what about the man who has just replaced Philippe Clement in the shape of Barry Ferguson?

Derek McInnes knows all about Barry Ferguson from their time together at Rangers, where a young Baz came through the ranks into a competitive squad in Glasgow.