A lot of eyes are on Rangers CEO Patrick Stewart as everyone waits to see what he does next.
Gers fans are raging with manager Philippe Clement after being knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Championship Queen’s Park, and are demanding the club ‘get him out’.
But there is also pressure mounting on the new CEO to make the call, after Stewart publicly backed the manager when just in the door.
However, he also strongly hinted that could change if results aren’t good enough and people are now asking whether losing to lower league opposition at Ibrox, and throwing away any chance of a trophy, should be the tipping point.
There is a feeling that the only thing keeping the Belgian in a job right now is how much it would cost to get rid of him, with the Scottish Sun reporting a £1.2million payout would be required.
For his own part, Clement refused to take the blame for the Queen’s Park defeat and insists he will not be walking away from his post.
He has dug himself out of holes before during his Rangers tenure but it may be more difficult this time.
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Patrick Stewart has Rangers dilemma
Michael Stewart reckons his namesake is in a tight spot because if he isn’t seen to act soon, people will have the perception that the manager is “untouchable” no matter what happens.
And if it really is purely for financial reasons that he remains in a job, the pundit says the club have to just find the money.
He told Premier Sports’ Scottish Football Social Club: “At the moment, Patrick Stewart is in a very difficult position because if he doesn’t get rid of the manager, I think there becomes a stage and a level where people then feel that Clement is untouchable and the reason is they can’t sack him.
“That becomes a self-perpetuating issue in itself, or he has to find the money and act now, and that’s what I think he actually needs to do because there is a malaise that creeps in.”
Stewart slammed ‘deplorable’ Clement
Stewart has already accused Clement of hanging Bailey Rice out to dry by hooking him at half-time, branding it a “deplorable” decision.
He said: “This is where I’ve got a real gripe with managers and in particular what Philippe Clement has done there. Bailey Rice did not deserve to get taken off at half-time.
“I thought it was a deplorable. The team was lacking urgency. Bailey Rice, youngster, first start at Ibrox, doing absolutely fine by the way.
“The more experienced players in and around him are the ones that you are looking for that urgency and that intensity from.
“Bailey Rice has got great technique and ability, and he will be brought along with those more experienced players.
“If you are looking to make a sub, you do not sub the youngster because you’re damaging him psychologically, and even more so now that the result has gone the way it has gone because he’ll be feeling like he was the problem.
“He absolutely was not the problem, and then to take Hagi off, who wasn’t having a particularly great game, and putting a left-back on. Mental, mental.”
