GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - FEBRUARY 09: Philippe Clement, Head Coach of Rangers FC, looks on ahead of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup match between Rangers FC and Queens Park at Ibrox Stadium on February 09, 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Phil Clement has been discussing the underhand way that he was sacked from Ibrox in February.
Two weeks after losing 1-0 at home to Queens Park in the Scottish Cup the Belgian Beale watched his side lose 2-0 at home to St Mirren.
That was on Saturday February 22, two days later an uber-staunch new management team of Barry Ferguson, Neil McCann, Billy Dodds and Allan McGregor were in place to face Kilmarnock on February 26.
Ferguson, McCann and Dodds spread their talents across almost every mainstream media outlet in Scotland, from mid-afternoon on February 23 it was an open secret that wee Barry was stepping up from Club Ambassador to replace the manager he had been backing all the way in the Daily Record and on Go Radio.
Dodds and McCann were negotiating short breaks from the BBC Scotland and Sky Sports contracts, McCann was due to be co-commentator at Rugby Park for the Kilmarnock match but found himself instead in the away dug out.
It was a far from dignified handover, every step was lined up by Paddy Stewart who had twice used club media in the previous weeks to insist that Clement’s position wasn’t under threat.
Speaking about his dismissal on the BBC Scotland podcast Sacked In The Morning Clement revealed:
It felt really empty. I was also angry that moment because all the journalists knew before me.
I got a lot of messages from Scotland, England and Belgium even, before I get a message from the club, so I was not happy with that. That’s not good.
I told them also that it was totally disrespectful, that moment.
But I felt really empty because you build something together in your full day and night with everything in the club.
And I had to do much more than you normally should do as a manager in the months before when these positions were not filled in.
Despite speculation linking him with the Anderlecht and Belgium jobs while in charge at Ibrox, six months after being sacked Clement is still without a management job although he can join the rota for shifts with Kenny Macintyre on BBC Scotland.
Are you happy with Celtic's transfer activity
Absolutely- fantastic business
I will judge on September 1
Horrific- feels like 2023 again
We’d better enjoy reminiscing over the banter years, Joe, because if Sevco keep improving, and the board continue to manage our decline, the shoe might be on the other foot this season.
Every possibility Paddybhoy67 sadly…
I had hoped Martin throwing them under a bus would’ve seen them implode…
Instead it had the desired effect – and then some at that…
Meanwhile we happily fumble and stumble along in total denial…
Well at boardroom level anyway !
Dear Bhoys & Ghirls – can I ask you to take a look at what the er, ‘independent’ public service broadcaster has posted on the BBC Sport Scotland website today. Never seen the likes – full worship and homage to Sevco and the dubious comparison to Laudrup on the back of er, 1 game. Off the scale.
So much for Stewart being the ultimate professional, Rangersitis catches them all rather quickly…
Big Pip must now be in the Belgian ‘ witness protection scheme ‘ like they do with ‘ grass’s ‘ in the US …a new identity with a top of the range ‘ syrup ‘ on his head and a moustache ? Obviously his compensation package dough has been fully paid up , otherwise there would total ‘ radio silence ‘ from Monsieur Clem – ohn ? Do you think that wee Raskin has been grilled by Ibroxland bosses as to where his compatriot is hiding out ? Maybe that’s why he was dropped last night at the start of their game ? He did not ‘ fold ‘ under questioning ! Just a bit of levity over breakfast …..without the lagers !
Obviously, sevco didn’t learn anything from their shocking dismissal of Warbuton,
via Sky Sports!
Clement’s experience just reinforces what a dysfunctional / stupid employer it remains?
Even allowing for English being a second language he still comes across as a pompous prat. Little wonder the iBrox dressing room hung him out to dry.