Clement goes rogue as he makes new claim on Ibrox cash crisis

Phil Clement has turned up the pressure on the Ibrox board by revealing that Abdallah Sima is out of his price range.

John Bennett already appears to be Public Enemy Number One with the loyal bears over the delayed work at Ibrox accompanied by virtual silence over when the stadium will re-open.

Over the weekend Clement revealed that he had been misled over the transfer funds that he could expect with incoming transfers put on hold.

Sima had a fairly successful spell on loan at Ibrox last season but the lack of funds mean that he won’t be gracing the wings of Hampden in the new season.

Asked about a deal for the Brighton man who has a year left on his Seagulls contract, Clement told the Daily Record:

I’ve been in touch with him, of course. He’s like one of my sons. Abda loves the club. Abda loves the way of playing we had last season and his role in that.

He loved his team-mates and the staff. But at the end of the day, Brighton is the owner so it’s all about the money then. At the moment it’s not possible. But we will see along the way if there comes a possibility because we would love to get him back.

Last season Clement was very reluctant to discuss anything in detail at media conferences, asked about Sima he could have replied that it was all speculation. Instead he has said that it isn’t possible and that it is all about money.

No-one in the Ibrox board would dare be critical of Clement for chucking away last season’s SPFL title but if he fails to reach the Champions League or falls behind in the title race he is certain to face the same fate as Micky Beale and Giovanni van Bronckhorst who never completed a full season in charge at Ibrox.