Rangers have sacked manager Philippe Clement after back-to-back defeats at Ibrox.
The Belgian had come under extreme pressure since the humiliating Scottish Cup exit at the hands of Queen’s Park a fortnight ago.
Saturday’s 2-0 Premiership defeat to St Mirren proved to be the final straw for the Rangers board who have now swung the axe.
The club stated on Sunday night: ‘Rangers Football Club can confirm it has tonight parted company with men’s first-team manager, Philippe Clement.
‘The club would like to put on record their sincere thanks to Philippe for his hard work and dedication during his spell in charge.’
Clement, 50, admitted after his team’s performance on Saturday that it was ‘by far the worst I’ve seen in all the time I’ve been here’.
His departure follows news that an American consortium are in talks with the club over a potential takeover which could take place before the end of the current season.
The former Club Brugge and Monaco boss succeeded Michael Beale in October 2023 and led the team to a League Cup triumph two months after his appointment.
Clement reacts during his team’s damaging Premiership defeat to St Mirren on Saturday
The Belgian remonstrates with an official during match which has now proved his last as boss
Chief executive Patrick Stewart and chairman Fraset Thornton during Saturday’s defeat
He also briefly hauled them into title contention last season, but they eventually finished eight points adrift of Celtic and he was unable to recapture the promising form of his early months in the job.
Although he led Rangers to the last 16 of the Europa League, where they will face Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce next month, Clement will vacate the position with Rangers 13 points adrift of city rivals Celtic at the top of the league and likely to end the season without a domestic trophy.
Speaking after Saturday’s defeat to the Paisley side, with Rangers having failed to take advantage of Celtic’s loss to Hibs earlier in the afternoon, Clement was not his usual bullish self despite insisting he would fight on.
Asked about his future, he said: ‘Those are the things the board needs to decide. In the end, I believe these players want to do the right thing.
‘I believe I can get results with these players. But I am also very disappointed with what we showed today – and I am responsible for that.
‘Today was by far not the performance that we have seen in the past. It was by far the worst performance from my time here.’
The decision to sack Clement comes just seven months after the Ibrox club handed him a new one-year contract extension.
Rangers chief executive Patrick Stewart publicly backed the manager last month despite growing pressure from supporters for him to go.
Clement tries to get his players to focus but they still fell to 2-0 defeat to Paisley side
Ibrox began to empty of home fans as it became clear Rangers were crashing to defeat
Stewart insisted that his previous role as CEO at Manchester United had shown him that constant managerial change did not work.
But he also warned the Belgian that results must improve, with no ‘cast-iron guarantees’ offered.
In the wake of the Queen’s Park defeat, Stewart again publicly supported the Belgian last week, saying the club could jeopardise their Europa League run if the manager was to be sacked.
Now, however, the club have decided to act and will be looking for their fifth permanent manager since November 2021.
An interim boss will have to be found, with a number of names already being touted including Issame Charai, who joined the club as assistant manager last month, and former Rangers player and caretaker manager Steven Davis.
Meanwhile, it has emerged that the proposed US takeover of Rangers could hinge on Leeds United returning to the English Premier League
Mail Sport reported last week how a group of US investors headed by Leeds chairman Paraag Marathe had no concerns that their plans would be dashed by rules regarding dual ownership.
Indeed, there is optimism on both sides that a deal, which would require the approval of the Scottish FA, will be concluded between April and June.
St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson and his players celebrate their 2-0 victory at Ibrox
Clement’s departure follows news that Rangers are in talks with an American consortium
Their confidence comes from the make-up of the consortium, which sees Marathe teaming up with several fellow US business people who have no involvement with San Francisco 49ers Enterprises, owners of Leeds.
However, for as long as Leeds remain outside the Premier League, such a move is likely to need the green light from the EFL as well.
EFL regulations forbid associations or dual interests with clubs in a number of competitions, including the Premier League and SPFL.
Those involved are entitled to ask for permission from the EFL board, which they are understood to be unlikely to grant.
However, clubs are due to discuss the regulations at the EFL’s divisional meetings this week, where there may well be an appetite for change.
Should that not be the case, the blue half of Glasgow may have to follow the Championship promotion race with interest.
