Issame Charai took charge of Rangers’ training session on Monday morning following Philippe Clement’s departure, with the Moroccan coach now set to assume interim control of first-team duties for Wednesday’s Premiership clash against Kilmarnock.
Clement was dismissed by the Rangers board on Sunday evening after another disappointing defeat to St Mirren over the weekend, marking the end of his 497-day tenure at Ibrox.
While Rangers have yet to officially announce their plans for the midweek fixture at Rugby Park, reports suggest that Charai is working closely with the players in preparation for the match and is expected to step in as caretaker manager.
Charai, who joined Rangers just last month as Clement’s assistant, brings a wealth of experience from his previous roles at Strasbourg, Al-Faisaly, Beerschot, Sint-Truidense, and OH Leuven. He also led Morocco’s Under-23 team to victory in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Currently, Rangers sit second in the league, trailing leaders and defending champions Celtic by 13 points.
Steven Gerrard has emerged as the early favorite among bookmakers to permanently succeed Clement at Rangers. However, with the club engaged in takeover discussions with the American 49ers consortium and aiming to appoint a sporting director, it may take several weeks before a definitive decision is made.
An interim appointment until the end of the season is being seriously considered, with former Rangers midfielder Barry Ferguson—whose last managerial role was with Alloa Athletic three years ago—rumored to be a strong candidate for the caretaker position.
Meanwhile, Rangers legend Ally McCoist has emphasized the need for a “long-term fix” at Ibrox following Clement’s exit.
The club is heading towards a trophyless domestic season, although they remain in the last 16 of the Europa League, where they will face Fenerbahce next month. In contrast, Old Firm rivals Celtic are eyeing another treble.
McCoist believes it will take significant time for Rangers to close the gap with their Old Firm rivals, stating on talkSPORT: “I think there has been a weakness both on and off the pitch, to be honest. It’s a combination of factors.
“It’s going to be a long-term fix because the gap between the two clubs is as wide as it has been in a very long time.
“I know Rangers fans, like myself, can point to the 3-0 victory in the Old Firm derby (on January 2), but we’re only fooling ourselves.”
