Philippe Clement has given his reaction to Rangers’ fans planned walkout for today’s game against St Johnstone.
In protest over recent results and the direction the club is heading in, Gers ultras group the Union Bears are planning to leave today’s Premiership match on the 55th minute.
And they are urging fellow Rangers supporters to follow suit.
St Johnstone visits Gers’ home this afternoon with Clement’s side having drawn their previous two games and only winning one from their last five.
The Union Bears issued a firm statement where they lashed out at the “incompetence” for the club’s board and called for the sacking of the manager.
They do add though that the problems run far deeper than the Belgian.
Clement responds to Rangers walkout
The Rangers ultras group went on to put out another social media post in which they urged other supporters to join them in a walkout on the 55th minute against St Johnstone.
They insists it is meant as a statement to the board that they won’t stand for the way things are going.
Asked about that, Clement told BBC Scotland: “I hope that team makes a performance that the fans want to stay at that moment. So, I’m focused on that and what the team is doing to find solutions since there are players missing, and to be creative. to get the result.
“I know from being here more than one year that when the team is performing well then all the fans are behind the team. That’s what the fans want to see and I’m focused on that to get the group in that way on the pitch.”
Asked if it was unfair from the support, he added: “No, fans are unhappy when the results are not there or what they expect. I’m focused on my team and my players to perform well to get this results better in the away games and to get more consistency with this group.
“There’s a lot of jobs to be done at this club, a lot of things have changed, and it’s about getting this consistency for sure in the away games because the consistency has been here in the home games and in the European games, so we need to take that next step.
“And of course also the home record that we have up until now.
“I will take everything on me. I want my players to be focused on the football and what they have to do on the pitch. It’s all about that and I know how fast things can change also.”
Union Bears statement
“Our club is being destroyed by incompetence, and a board that has lost all respect for the supporters who built this legacy. The time for action is now,” the initial statement reads.
“For years, the board and the club’s owners have shielded themselves behind the failures of management teams, using them as scapegoats to mask their own lack of vision, leadership and respect for us. We cannot stand by any longer.
“The playing squad, particularly the senior players, must also shoulder some responsibility. They look set to see off yet another manager, consistently falling short of the expectations that come with wearing the Rangers jersey. Their lack of accountability on the pitch mirrors the failings we see in the boardroom.”
