Rangers have decided to part ways with manager Philippe Clement after 16 months in charge.
The Belgian enjoyed a successful start to his reign but he has been under pressure from early in the season and chief executive Patrick Stewart has decided a change is needed.
He had publicly backed Clement in midweek despite the Scottish Cup loss to second tier side Queen’s Park — the first time Rangers had lost to lower league opposition at Ibrox in the competition’s history.
Clement described Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to St Mirren as the worst performance of his tenure and fan sentiment has soured in recent weeks.
Sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, have said that the players have been informed of the decision.
Clement lost only one of his first 28 games in charge and won a trophy at the first opportunity when Rangers beat Aberdeen last February to claim the League Cup.
However, their league form crashed in March and they failed to win any of the final Old Firm derbies, including the Scottish Cup final.
The squad underwent sizeable changes in the summer but failing at the first Champions League qualifying round to Dynamo Kyiv was compounded by a 3-0 loss to Celtic and a penalty shootout loss to Brendan Rodgers’ side in the League Cup final.
Rangers are thirteen points behind Celtic, who are on track for their fourth title in a row.
The Europa League is their only remaining hope of a trophy and they face Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbache in the last 16 next month.
(Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
