RANGERS have confirmed Philippe Clement has been sacked after 16 months in the job.
Now we can reveal a former Gers defender is one of the names in the frame to take over.
Russell Martin is in the frame for the Rangers job[/caption]
He had a spell at Rangers as a player[/caption]
Philippe Clement has been sacked[/caption]
SunSport were first to break the news on Sunday afternoon that the Belgian was on his way out of Ibrox.
Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to St Mirren was the final straw for directors with Clement finally told his time was up by chief executive Patrick Stewart.
We can now reveal former defender Russell Martin is one of the names in the frame to take over.
The ex-Southampton boss is currently out of work and it’s understood he’s regarded as a serious contender by influential boardroom figures who are involved in the ongoing takeover talks with US investors.
The bookies have installed Steven Gerrard as the favourite to make a sensational return.
But it’s believed the Liverpool legend – who guided Gers to the Premiership title in 2021 – may not believe the time is right.
The likelihood is that Ibrox chiefs will name a caretaker boss for Wednesday’s league clash with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park – with Under-18s coach Kevin Thomson and Clement’s No2 Issame Charai possibilities.
But Clement was informed of the club’s decision following behind-the-scenes talks throughout Saturday night and yesterday.
A statement released by the club last night confirmed: “Rangers Football club can confirm it has tonight parted company with men’s first-team manager, Philippe Clement.
“The club would like to put on record their sincere thanks to Philippe for his hard work and dedication during his spell in charge.
“A further update from the club will follow in due course.”
Gers will now be obliged to pay out a hefty severance deal to the 50 year-old Belgian and his backroom staff.
The club handed Clement a bumper new deal last August which meant he was due a big money pay-off if he was sacked.
The current board were hoping to avoid wielding the axe.
But a decision was made yesterday to part ways with Clement with fans demanding he was shown the door.
He survived after Gers crashed out of the Scottish Cup to Queen’s Park.
But Clement himself admitted the performance in the weekend defeat to St Mirren was an even worse display.
Asked about his future following that latest defeat – which has Gers 13 points behind rivals Celtic – he said: “Those are things the board needs to decide.
“In the end, I believe these players want to do the right things.
“I believe I can get results with these players.
“But I am also very disappointed with what we showed today – and I am responsible for that.
“Today was by far not the performance that we have seen in the past.
“It was by far the worst performance from my time here.
“It’s terribly disappointing, because we were so nervous on the ball and in the duels, in everything.
“I don’t know where it’s coming from.
“That’s my frustration and it’s also my responsibility to put a team on the pitch with the right mindset.
“I didn’t see this one coming, this nervousness, everyone below par, almost all game.
“There were a few better spells, but by far we were not what Rangers should be.
“I saw the team drifting apart in islands.
“That’s not been the case in the past, when we’ve had difficult moments and gone behind we have reacted as a team.
“Today, it was reacting one on one and not as a team.
“Then we don’t play the football we need to play and it’s a bad performance
“Leadership is an important one, but leadership is also a collective one.
“In the first place it’s my responsibility.”
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
