Rangers chief says ‘so much else to fix’ rather than focusing on manager’s job

Rangers chief executive Patrick Stewart told fans there was “so much else to fix” in the football department rather than focusing on the manager’s job, according to minutes of a meeting between the club and supporters.

The recently-appointed chief executive reiterated that Rangers are not bound by their financial situation when considering the future of Philippe Clement, according to the minutes published by the Rangers Fan Advisory Board.

The meeting took place before Rangers lost 1-0 at home to Championship side Queen’s Park in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup fifth round.

Before publishing the minutes, the fan group said: “We have been in contact with the club since last weekend’s disastrous Scottish Cup performance to convey the strength of fan sentiment following that unacceptable result.”

According to the minutes, Stewart was told of supporters’ “dismay” over domestic performances and asked why a change had not been made given the team were in a “worse position” to the situations when previous managers were removed.

The minutes stated: “PS reiterated that the decision to retain Philippe Clement as manager was not a financially driven decision, rather it was recognition there was so much else to fix in the football department.”

Stewart explained to supporters that the football review he had launched was being carried out with support from consultants Sportsology.

The minutes added: “In terms of the football review, it is all encompassing with the objective of ensuring that the department is befitting of an elite club.”

Fans were also told that improved player trading efficiency was a key priority, with technical director Nils Koppen stating that the club would move towards recruiting players that fit in with a club style rather than that which fits in with any specific manager.

Clement has come under increasing pressure from fans following Queen’s Park’s first win at Ibrox for 90 years.

The defeat leaves Rangers staring at a barren season as they are 13 points behind Premier Sports Cup winners Celtic in the William Hill Premiership, although they are already in the last 16 of the Europa League.

Clement took charge of Rangers in October 2023 and soon won the League Cup, one of three pieces of major silverware that have been added to the Ibrox trophy room since Ally McCoist took charge in 2011.

Clement’s immediate predecessors, Michael Beale and Giovanni van Bronckhorst, lasted about 10 months and 12 months respectively before being sacked.

The Belgian insisted after Sunday’s defeat that he would not consider his position and did not expect talks with the board in the wake of the shock result.

Rangers next face Hearts at Tynecastle in the Premiership on Sunday.