Dan Bardell has warned that Rangers manager Philippe Clement’s future could hinge on the outcome of the next Old Firm clash, following a humiliating 3-0 defeat at Parkhead on 1st September.
The Belgian’s side put in a dismal performance, leading to growing frustration among fans, some of whom gathered outside Ibrox to express their anger and demand more from the team. There were even calls for Clement’s sacking after the loss.
Sky Sports and talkSPORT journalist Bardell believes that Clement may be given until the next derby with Celtic to turn things around.
Speaking exclusively to Ibrox News, Bardell said: “They’ve got to try and win all their games that are coming up. Then by the next time they play Celtic be somewhat near them. If they start to drift too far away from Celtic then Clement is going to have job problems, they need to keep themselves in touch.
“When the next Old Firm comes around, Rangers need to be in a better position than they are now. They need to win that match to get a better feeling around the club because it’s all pretty abject right now.”
Philippe Clement’s future at Rangers is now under intense scrutiny. His tenure at Ibrox has been marked by a string of poor results, including this latest derby defeat, which only highlights the gulf between the two Glasgow sides.
Clement initially enjoyed some success after taking over from Michael Beale, but the momentum quickly faded. Rangers’ failure to challenge Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic last season, allowing them to coast to the league title, has only deepened concerns.
With fans growing restless and Clement continuing to ask for patience without delivering consistent results, the pressure is mounting.
The next Old Firm derby, scheduled for January, could well be a make-or-break moment for the Belgian boss. Whether he will still be in charge by then remains to be seen.