Rangers CEO Patrick Stewart Affirms Support For Philippe Clement Amidst Poor Season Performance

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Rangers CEO Patrick Stewart has confirmed that Philippe Clement will continue as the club's manager despite increasing pressure from fans due to unsatisfactory results. Rangers recently drew 1-1 with Dundee, leaving them 15 points behind Celtic, who extended their lead to 18 points after defeating Ross County. The team's poor away form persists, having won only three out of 11 away games this season, which has left supporters frustrated.

Despite domestic struggles, Clement has positioned Rangers well in Europe. They are currently eighth in the Europa League standings, which secures automatic qualification for the knockout stages. Speaking before the upcoming Scottish Premiership match against St. Johnstone, Stewart expressed his full support for Clement but acknowledged the need for better results.

Stewart stated, "There's been a lot of talk about results, and there's been a lot of talk about the manager, and I know that the spotlight is on [chairman] Fraser [Thornton] and myself, but particularly on me. But that's the job, I'm okay with that." He emphasized his commitment to making decisions beneficial for Rangers rather than just popular ones.

The CEO highlighted that changing managers frequently is not an effective solution. "Changing a manager isn't a silver-bullet solution," he said. Stewart believes in addressing deeper issues within the club rather than opting for managerial changes as a quick fix.

Clement echoed Stewart's sentiments by acknowledging long-standing underperformance issues at Rangers. "There's something deeper rooted here," he noted. Both Stewart and Clement are focused on identifying and resolving these consistency problems without speculating on potential outcomes if results do not improve.

"If the results don't improve, obviously I can't give Philippe any cast-iron guarantees," Stewart admitted. He stressed that both he and Clement understand the realities of football management and are working together to address inconsistencies.

Commitment to Success

Stewart clarified that retaining Clement is not financially motivated or an attempt to avoid tough decisions. "Sticking with Philippe isn't about trying to avoid a tough decision," he explained. Instead, it reflects confidence in Clement's dedication and work ethic.

"I've worked with several managers and Philippe is as hard-working and committed as any I've seen," Stewart remarked. He praised Clement's commitment to success at Rangers, noting his tireless efforts on the training ground.

The board remains supportive of Clement's vision for the club's future success. They aim to provide him with necessary backing while focusing on building a stronger foundation for consistent performance improvements.