Untenable- Daily Mail lays out the timeline for Clement’s sacking

Gary Keown has laid out the timeline for Phil Clement’s job to become untenable- but doubts if there is anyone inside Ibrox capable of finding a successor.

Defeat at Aberdeen will leave Clement and his exciting young side trailing the Dons by nine points with three highly demanding Europa League Thursday’s nights to be negotiated before Christmas arrives.

A 4-0 win over FCSB on Thursday gave the Belgian Beale a stay of execution but after losing at Kilmarnock last week it is now only a matter of time before Clement is sacked, the next domestic defeat or another European hammering should do the deed.

Even the fan media outlets realise that it is time up, Clement has survived longer than Micky Beale and Giovanni van Bronckhorst but only a fool would back him to be in the dug-out when Celtic first foot at Ibrox on January 2.

Keown is hurting as much as any Ibrox fan, in the Daily Mail he spells out the realities facing the current manager ahead of a pivotal week:

Philippe Clement spent his early months in the manager’s job trying to detail how much of a basket case he’d walked into — from unused cryochambers to multi-million pound talents walking away for nothing to crazy injury lists and players who simply weren’t fit enough.

Sadly, it is going to swallow him whole before long. Results are not up to scratch and he’s one loss at Pittodrie on Wednesday away from his position being untenable.

One of umpteen problems Rangers have right now, though, is that you simply wouldn’t trust the existing board to find a replacement if the Belgian, given a new and extended deal at the start of the season for reasons unknown, does get bulleted.

As uncomfortable as it is to agree with anything ex-chair Dave King chirrups from the sidelines, a full-scale takeover looks like the only way Rangers will ever get close to Celtic again.

However, there’s no immediate sign of that happening and, so, it looks like the punters are stuck with what they’ve got unless they get a little more militant.

King and a takeover is a complete non-runner. The South African based ‘businessman’ has been trying to sell his 14% shareholding for three years with no takers which has resulted in his periodic statement sniping to unquestioning media messengers.

Four different parties hold more than 9% shareholdings (King, Douglas Park, George Taylor and Stuart Gibson) with ye bulk of the shares scattered far and wide.

While Clement limps on the real issue is the accounts to 30 June 2024. With a likely loss expected in the region of £20m whoever comes in next will be faced with the same diet of austerity while outside angry bears demand trophies as they see Celtic take the fake title of The World’s Most Successful club.

?? "I love this place, I love this club, I love the city and the fans."

Philippe Clement on why he has signed a new contract as Rangers boss until the summer of 2028, ahead of their season opener at Hearts – live on Sky ? pic.twitter.com/AuLUdaVXzH

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) August 2, 2024