Patrick Stewart has doubled down on his insistence that the decision to stick with Philippe Clement as Rangers boss is not driven by a lack of cash.
But supporters are convinced standing by the manager will only lead to more costly failure down the line. The Ibrox CEO’s claims have now landed him firmly in the firing line along with the Belgian. And Gordon Blackwell, Glasgow, said: “Patrick Stewart says the decision not to sack Clement is not financial. Who is he trying to kid? The bigger question is where did the many millions accrued during the Europa League final season, together with the transfer fees received for Joe Aribo, Calvin Bassey and Nathan Patterson, go? Rangers should be in a strong position financially, given that and the loyalty of the fans. Successive boards have ruined this club and the current members seem no better than their predecessors.”
Jimmy Mac, Glasgow, said: “That’s it for me at Ibrox while that 100 per cent useless failure called a football manager Philippe Clement is in charge. I won’t be back until he is gone for good, that board of good for nothings are happy to be second best they are a disgrace they have sold our club, our institution down the Clyde with used car salesmen at the helm. Also let’s remind ourselves that Patrick Stewart was sacked by Man Utd as a failure of a CEO after only one season in that position then Rangers give him the very same job, that in itself beggars belief. Someone outwith the club is needed to trace where all the money has gone at Rangers FC.”
Robert Livingstone, Palm Beach, said: “Terrible times, a dud manager, poor players, so agent Craig Moore offered them a lifeline with Niko Katic for free but didn’t want him, sticking with Robin Propper. The irony is he goes to Plymouth and is best against Liverpool and even their £200 million rated attackers couldn’t get the better of Katic. Days later he scores in a win that lifts Plymouth off the bottom. More bad decisions by Rangers’ board, they just keep coming.”
But Nick Boyle, New York, said: “Pick up a copy of this paper or listen to any football phone-in from the last decade and you’ll read or hear exactly the same tired and senseless supposed solutions to the latest Rangers calamity. Fans need to wake up. The board are the only reason their club is afloat. Even so it can’t afford to sack Clement. And boycotts will only drain the coffers further. The reality is that there’s a rival well-run club that is flush with cash and as a result Rangers’ place in the pecking order is second, at best.”
Stephen Mulhern, Dumbarton, said: “Patrick Stewart should swallow his pride and come clean to the Rangers support and just admit like everyone knows that they don’t have the £1.2 million to pay Clement off . The simple solution is to put that price tag on their prize asset in the transfer window. With the supposed 10 offers they would have had League One sides clambering for Dessers’ signature.”
Over to Celtic and the Green Brigade’s Israel protest banner unfurled in the defeat to Bayern Munich could land the club in more trouble with UEFA, Fed-up Jim Docherty emailed: “It’s time for the board to step up to the mark and ban ALL those Green Brigade bampots until the end of season or longer term as they are an embarrassment to the Celtic cause and never cease from bringing fines and possible ground closure.”
One the game itself, Robert McEwan, Mount Vernon, said: “I think the forwards we have at our disposal will be coming at Bayern like spitfires and we are more than capable of out gunning them. Well you have to keep the faith.”
But Rangers fan Gary Stevenson, Newtonhill, said: “Celtic should trial putting the players names on the front of their shirts next week in Munich. That way the crowd would think they are going forward. Apparently Callum McGregor had to get his balance checked after running backwards for 90 minutes.”
Finally, Neil Renton, Leith, reckons Hibs are on the right path despite posting £7.2m losses. He said: “David Gray is right. While other clubs have been buying players Hibs are doing as well as they are with a bloated squad of players who aren’t up to our high standards. Once we move them on in the summer we’ll bring in quality – not quantity.”