Philippe Clement’s long-term future at Rangers appears uncertain following his side’s 3-0 Old Firm defeat to Celtic, according to veteran journalist Hugh Keevins.
In his column for the Daily Record on 8 September, Keevins noted that Rangers were fortunate to have escaped with just a 3-0 loss at Celtic Park, suggesting the margin could easily have been larger and left Clement’s job hanging by a thread.
Keevins also pointed out the unfortunate timing of an upcoming question-and-answer session with Clement scheduled for 10 September, remarking that it could hardly have come at a worse moment, with growing concerns over the quality of the Belgian’s team.
“I would have thought, under current circumstances, the manager’s first target on a personal basis would have been to remain in work for the duration of the league championship,” Keevins wrote.
“If Celtic had won by the margin they should have done last weekend – and doubled their 3-0 win to a watershed scoreline with far-reaching consequences – Clement’s employment prospects would have been left hanging by a thread.”
Clement, who has been leading a significant overhaul of the Rangers squad this summer, has fashioned a side in his own image. But following the chastening defeat to their Glasgow rivals, pressure has mounted.
This latest loss is the heaviest of Clement’s tenure so far. In four previous Old Firm clashes, Celtic had won three times by a single goal, while the other encounter ended in a 3-3 draw at Ibrox.
But Rangers managers are always judged by their performances in these key fixtures, and Clement now has no wins from five attempts, a record that suggests his side are falling further behind their greatest rivals.
The challenge for Clement is now clear: he must keep pace with Celtic in the Premiership until their next encounter in January 2025. With Rangers already five points adrift of both Celtic and Aberdeen at the top of the table, it’s a tall order.
New signings, such as £3.3 million deadline day arrival Nedim Bajrami, are still untested, and Clement will need to ensure his revamped squad can compete across all competitions if he is to remain in charge for much longer.