Rangers boss Philippe Clement has been the subject of surprise exit speculation this week.
Reporters in Belgium had discussed the 50-year-old Gers manager as a potential option for a return to the country’s Pro League.
Whilst the former Belgian international played for and managed Club Brugge, Clement was tipped to takeover at divisional rivals Anderlecht.
Given the recent upheaval at Ibrox, it’s something which doesn’t bear thinking about for Rangers fans who’ve just seen Philippe Clement rebuild the Ibrox squad.
And the Ibrox gaffer has sent a ‘really clear’ message about those reports ahead of Rangers’ Europa League clash with Malmö in Sweden.
Philippe Clement ‘very clear’ on Rangers future
Speaking ahead of Rangers’ Europa League clash with Malmö, Philippe Clement was asked about those links to Anderlecht.
Having joined Rangers last October following the sacking of Michael Beale, it’s been a tumultuous 11 months in charge at Ibrox already for the ex-AS Monaco gaffer.
Lifting the League Cup in December, Rangers reached the last 16 of the Europa League under Clement and miraculously hauled back a seven-point gap to briefly top the Scottish Premiership.
But as his team ran out of gas in the final furlong, the Belgian was prevented from overseeing one of the greatest comebacks in Scottish domestic history.
Signing a new contract on the eve of the new season in a collective expression of unity, Clement insists that not even the might of Real Madrid, Barcelona or Manchester United would be enough to claw him away from Ibrox.
“It’s really clear I engaged myself long-term for Rangers last month,” Clement told a pre-match press conference.
“Whoever comes, whatever team comes, I’m not going to go away.
“Really clear. I want this project with the club to make it really successful for the future.
“We all know we need time for that, we need a few transfer windows for that, we need a lot of work to do for that.
“And that’s what I want to do because I love the city, I love the club, I love the dynamic at Ibrox with the fans, so I am here to stay, very clear.”
Rangers chairman throws support behind Clement
The feeling behind Philippe Clement at Rangers is clearly a mutual one too.
With outgoing Rangers chairman John Bennett handing Clement a new contract earlier in the season, his interim Ibrox replacement John Gilligan was quizzed on the manager this week.
And Gilligan insists that Philippe Clement has the backing of everyone at Rangers.
“I was very impressed with the manager,” said Gilligan. “We had quite a long talk with myself and George Letham.
“Very impressive. The long and short of it is I don’t talk about the football myself, as much as I want to.
“The manager is in charge. We’re here to operate the business, the manager is supported to operate the training academy and football club side of things.
“We’ll never interfere in that.
“One thing I will say to you guys is that the manager has been put forward as the kind of spokesperson for the club, which has put him under undue pressure.
“It’s an area of the business that is not his and hopefully I’ll pick up some of that or someone else will.
“But the manager is very impressive.
“Absolutely (Clement has the backing of the board). Definitely. The famous last words of the chairman. No, absolutely.”
