Philippe Clement has revealed he doesn’t fear for his future at Rangers after holding talks with incoming chief executive Patrick Stewart.
The Belgian is under intense pressure after his team shipped 13 points in their opening 12 Premiership matches.
Already 11 points behind leaders Celtic after drawing at home to Dundee United on Saturday, Clement has admitted he is ‘out of credit’ with disgruntled fans.
But although Stewart doesn’t officially start his new job until December 16 — the day after the Premier Sports Cup final with Celtic — Clement has already held discussions with him and was encouraged by what he heard.
Confirming there had been no wider talks with the club’s hierarchy since his side’s latest setback, he said: ‘Nothing, no board discussions.
‘I had a meeting with the new CEO. It was a really good talk and that’s it. No, I’m not busy with that (my future). I’m busy with the team. I’m busy with getting results.’
Clement was encouraged by what he heard during talks with incoming CEO Patrick Stewart
Stewart will take up his new role the day after next month’s Premier Sports Cup final
John Souttar will hope to continue his recent form in Rangers’ Europa League tie with Nice
Asked to expand on the discussions with Stewart, Clement added: ‘No, I cannot go into detail about that. It’s about my experience, about what this year was in the club, and what are the things that were good and what are the things to improve on.’
Stewart’s appointment came six months after predecessor James Bisgrove left for a job in Saudi Arabia.
Welcoming the move, Clement said: ‘It’s a very important thing because the last couple of months there was a big vacuum in the club. A lot of things could not be decided at that moment because there was nobody to decide those kind of things. So, I’m really happy that Patrick is here now.
‘We had a really good talk about everything, about the past year, my experiences. He’s doing that with all the people in the club to make a good analysis. And then he can start in a good way.
‘He’s going to start halfway in December, I think. So that we can make a step forward again. Because, of course, for any club in the world it’s not good to be in that kind of vacuum situation.’
Speaking ahead of his club’s Europa League clash with OGC Nice in France tomorrow, Clement confirmed he has no fresh injury concerns.
Although neither Ianis Hagi nor Danilo are in the European squad, the Belgian is optimistic that other players may soon be available.
‘In that way, positive also,’ he said. ‘We spoke about that last season, we had big periods with 12 players out, long periods like that.
‘So, Oscar (Cortes) did his first part of the training today, so he will need still a few more weeks to be really ready to play games, but it’s a positive thing.
‘Tom Lawrence is also close in the next couple of weeks, he will be back.
‘Rabbi (Matondo) will do the same, and we want to keep it in that way.
‘I think John (Souttar) is a good example in that way also, for the past year.
‘He had problems in the past, and the way he’s performing the last couple of months, regularly playing all these minutes, it’s the first time in his career that he plays so many minutes. And we have a few other examples in that way also. So, that’s a positive, and we want to keep it that way.’
Meanwhile, Nice have announced they are cancelling any tickets Rangers fans have bought for the home end.
With supply outstripping demand in the visiting section, it’s understood hundreds of supporters from Scotland purchased briefs for the Nice section.
Those fans have now been informed that the tickets have been withdrawn, with full refunds being given.
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