Rangers manager Philippe Clement has offered clarity as to why new CEO Patrick Stewart will be addressing the club’s transfer business.
The Ibrox manager has swiftly shut down any enquiries about Rangers’ transfer dealings this summer, raising eyebrows amongst fans and journalists.
After telling journalists Patrick Stewart would address fans on the club’s transfer business following the draw with Hibs, Clement did the same ahead of the trip to Dundee.
Speaking to Sky Sports about the situation, Philippe Clement has explained that the club will be dividing media responsibilities after six months of a ‘vacuum’.
It comes after Philippe Clement was forced to answer questions on the Ibrox club’s funding and executive direction during a period of substantial upheaval.
It’s despite the Rangers manager being solely in charge of the Gers’ football department.
Patrick Stewart Rangers transfer address explained
”Those are things to discuss inside the club, what we did,” said Clement when asked about the January transfer window by Sky Sports.
”Everybody is aligned about that with the same ideas.
”Patrick our new CEO will come out in the next couple of days also to give a little bit more explanation also about the plans for January and the future for the club.
”We discussed that. That those responsibilities are also divided inside the club.
”Because the last six months in all this vacuum situation I had to talk about everything, also about the budget, where I don’t have an influence in.
”So I’m focused on the football story and to talk about that.
”Like I said, Patrick will speak about that and I’m also realistic in that way that January is always a difficult window to get deals.
”Because players are doing well, teams don’t want to let them go. Like we are, like every team in the world.
”And other players, we need to see. So (Patrick) will address that in the coming days.”
In the pre-match press conference Philippe Clement was asked specifically when Rangers fans can expect to hear from Patrick Stewart.
”It’s not going to take more than one week (for Patrick to address fans),” answered Clement.
”It’s important the fans know what the plans for the club are.
”So Patrick is totally involved in that way also, towards the fans and towards everybody outside of the club also.”
Philippe Clement’s ‘realistic’ Rangers transfer expectations
Journalists were not willing to let Philippe Clement off that lightly as they pressed for news on Rangers’ transfer dealings.
The Ibrox club are notoriously tight-lipped when it comes to potential signings with news around transfers rarely breaking until the final moments.
And usually this comes from the other club’s side.
Rangers are in the midst of a sizeable squad rebuild and are also feeling the strain of several injuries to the club’s backline.
Many Rangers fans felt that the Ibrox side might’ve moved sooner to bring in defensive reinforcements.
Clement was asked if he is happy with the transfer situation at Rangers, just months on from when interim chairman John Gilligan pledged funds to the Ibrox boss.
“That’s a difficult question,” said Clement.
”Every manager wants more but I’m realistic. So what is possible for the club I will work really hard to get the best out of that.
”So that’s for a lot of managers in the world like that.
“There are not many clubs that you can get a blank chequebook to do whatever you want, it doesn’t happen so much.
”I know what the situation of the club is. I know what the plan is. I know it’s a long term plan.
“I engaged myself fully into that so I’m not going to complain about it.
When asked if fans shouldn’t be getting their hopes up this January transfer window: “No that’s a good detour, a very good detour.
”But like I said, we all want to do our role in the club so just wait a few days and you will get answers.
”Of course (I will be disappointed if I don’t get my targets) because I want to win every game and I want to have the best team and I want to have the best squad.
”It’s also a challenge as a manager not only to buy the best squad but also to make the best squad, it’s even a better challenge than to buy one.
”Although it’s also a challenge to spend your money really well.
”So I went into the challenge to make the best squad with all these people, it’s not only me, it’s a lot of people in this club, to make the best squad.
”That’s what we’re going for everyday and in moments they’ve shown, in several moments the last couple of months, but not consistent enough like I want it, like it’s needed here.
”So we’re pushing that button a lot, a lot every single day.”
Rangers need to find clever £30m Celtic solution
Philippe Clement has also been discussing the strength in depth in his Rangers squad as the club’s season derails over December.
Rangers had battled back into a strong position heading into the New Year Old Firm and realistically should’ve been looking to go within six points of Celtic.
But as a stretched squad fell short away to St Mirren, Motherwell and now Hibs, Rangers find themselves 13 points off their rivals despite winning at Ibrox.
Philippe Clement referenced Celtic as he discussed the need for greater squad depth and the Rangers manager insists everyone at Ibrox is working hard to reinforce a limited squad.
”It’s something that’s necessary in seasons like now with that amount of games,” said Clement in reference to strength in depth.
”We had talks about that and I don’t read everything but people tell me sometimes things.
”There was a lot of fuss about that, about rotation. I explained it’s a normal thing and it’s not only a normal thing here.
”Look at the weekend, our rivals in the city, how many people they changed towards the weekend before.
”They spent £30m on players who are not all the time in the starting XI, or by far not, so yeah it’s an important part.
”We don’t have the same chequebook in that way so we need to work in that way to make this depth better with getting talents in or to get players out of our academy to make them better.”
