Rangers manager Philippe Clement has not only signed his new long term deal, but has also claimed he will not leave Rangers for ‘whatever team’ and that he believes in Rangers and the connection he has with Ibrox.
Speaking pre-Malmo Clement was at pains to stress how much in the long game of Rangers he is, so for those fans and groups, Ibrox Noise included, who have a few misgivings about his management, he attests that he’s going nowhere.
He said:
“I made it really clear – I have engaged myself for the long term at Rangers last month. Whatever team comes I’m not going away. I’m really clear, I want this project for the club and to make it really successful for the future. We all know we need time for that, we need a few transfer windows to do that and that is what I want to do. I love the city, I love the club, I love the dynamic with the fans at Ibrox so I’m here to stay.”
Clement appears to be having a slight caravan dog barking moment here again – is he seriously suggesting to us that if Real Madrid wanted him to be the new manager at a wage beyond his wildest dreams, he’d say no?
We think he means what he says in that he wouldn’t just leave for ‘any old club’, so Bolton or Spezia probably aren’t for him.
But like the late, great, Walter Smith, who gave up a brilliant job at Scotland for reporting for duty when his team needed him, we’re sure the right offer from the right club would change his mind.
But, in fairness, he does seem committed, and despite the rather patchy March-onwards periods that Rangers have had, Clement seems to be sticking with Rangers anyway.
He probably won’t be going anywhere any time soon.