It’s not just a section of the Motherwell support who have cause to reflect on their behaviour after manager Stuart Kettlewell’s departure in response to maltreatment.
Ibrox for Introspection might also be an allowable slogan where Philippe Clement is concerned. I wrote here weeks ago that a service of repentance might be necessary at the ground in the wake of the Belgian’s progress in defiance of his legion of detractors.
There is now a substantial body of evidence to support the concept in principle, if not the notion of actually organising such an event, after Clement’s depleted team reached the
last-16 of the Europa League.
The man has been accosted in the street outside Ibrox after a loss to Celtic and condemned on a widespread basis for simply not being the best. Anyone who denies that was the case has a tenuous grip on reality, selective amnesia and a fragile relationship with the truth.
There have been walk-outs, banners, demonstrations and his appointment was seen as another act of betrayal by a Rangers board who were deemed unfit for purpose.
Clement was routinely asked in press conferences if he feared for his job – but that question has now become redundant.
As outdated as the criticism of his most controversial signing Cyriel Dessers. The crowd were singing the striker’s name before the start of Thursday’s win over Union St-Gilloise, instead of booing him when he came on to the park in the darker days. Europe’s an ongoing story for Clement. The Premiership title’s not yet a closed chapter on an arithmetical basis.
The only thing that has been established beyond all reasonable doubt is that the Rangers support have suffered from a straightforward case of premature exasperation where their manager is concerned.
I look forward to the first radio caller telling me they were never in any doubt the manager would come good and never supported any opposition to him staying in office while everyone else was losing their heads.
I’ll answer him, or her, once I’ve stopped laughing.