Ibrox Noise was slightly amused by the response from a couple of readers to our transfer suggestion over France’s Mamadou Sakho, whereby the indignant pontification from one or two read ‘leave it to the manager’.

This made us laugh a touch, not because they are strictly wrong in a general sense, but because they’re completely oblivious to how our manager Philippe Clement works. And they also appear to wish to censor free-thinking and general discussion about our club.

As for the obliviousness – it has been made very clear by French (and Belgian) media that Philippe Clement has next-to-no interest in the business of recruitment. The man has always used the services of a Director of Football above him to scout, recruit, and bring in the chosen players.

Clement, of course, offers his input over the players targeted, but he plays no major role in choice, signing, negotiations or, to an extent, scouting.

He plays his part, yes, and if asked will offer his counsel, but the statement ‘leave it to the manager’ is simply false/invalid and fan groups offering suggestions on new players is no more or less legitimate than the scouts doing it, and a potential football director doing it.

Clement is focused on the coaching and management of the players he has, and while he will make some requests for positions he wants bettered, he has no active major role in the process of acquiring them.

That’s how he worked at Genk, then Brugge, then Monaco, and it’s the system he’s used to over his management career.

It’s how he will work at Rangers as well.

So if we offer a player or two for the club to look at as well, the response ‘leave it to the manager’ in this instance is something of a fallacy.

So there you have it.