Rangers Chief Patrick Stewart Justifies Support For Philippe Clement After Scottish Cup Defeat

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Rangers' CEO, Patrick Stewart, has defended the club's choice to retain manager Philippe Clement despite their Scottish Cup defeat to Queen's Park. Stewart emphasised that the decision was based on the club's long-term interests rather than financial concerns. The team is currently 13 points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, and their loss to a second-tier team has intensified pressure on Clement.

Stewart highlighted that Rangers have been underperforming for several seasons, which he believes is not solely due to the manager. "We have changed the manager, and it has not made a difference," he stated. He compared fixing the team's issues to repairing a house by starting with the foundations rather than the ceiling. Stewart stressed that addressing root causes is crucial for improvement.

The recent loss marked a historic moment as Rangers lost a home Scottish Cup match against a lower division side for the first time. Their 1-0 defeat to Queen's Park was reminiscent of their last similar loss in January 1967 against Berwick Rangers. Fans expressed their disappointment at full-time, adding to the mounting pressure on Clement.

Despite domestic setbacks, Stewart praised Clement and his team for their performance in the Europa League. He mentioned that maintaining progress in this competition is vital and does not want any decisions to jeopardise it. "I don't want to take a step that would put further progress in the Europa League at risk," he said.

Addressing speculation about financial constraints affecting managerial decisions, Stewart clarified that finances are not hindering changes at Rangers. "I've said consistently that we are not refusing to make changes because of finances," he explained. He dismissed suggestions that avoiding termination payments influenced their decision-making process.

Stewart reiterated his commitment to making decisions based on what benefits Rangers in the long run rather than seeking immediate popularity or quick wins. He acknowledged that everyone at the club is judged on results but insisted there are no free passes.

Rangers' hopes for silverware now largely depend on their Europa League journey. Stewart remains firm in his belief that sticking with Clement aligns with their strategic goals and will ultimately benefit the club's future success.