THE SCOTTISH SUN 🔵 Rangers board reveal they’re BACKING Philippe Clement but new CEO Patrick Stewart warns ‘everything isn’t fine’

PHILIPPE CLEMENT has been BACKED by the Ibrox board.

After falling 15 points behind Celtic, the majority of Rangers fans were calling for the beleaguered Belgian to be sacked.

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Instead, new Gers chief executive Patrick Stewart has handed him a vote of confidence.

Stewart confirmed: “I need to make some tough decisions, it comes with the role, but I am committed to making the right ones for Rangers, not just the popular ones. 

“So, cutting to the chase, we are backing Philippe at this time as a board.

“It’s about taking a deeper look at the issues, addressing those problems, and staying focused on building a stronger future for the club.

“Changing a manager isn’t a silver bullet solution. 

“You know where I’ve worked previously and that isn’t something that has been effective there, it’s not effective at a lot of football clubs where there’s constant change of manager.”

Despite a furious fan reaction in Dundee on Thursday, Clement claimed he had “200 per cent confidence” he still had the Rangers board’s backing.

But Stewart has warned him results – especially away from home – MUST improve.

Gers have spilled 20 points from a possible 33 on the road this season and Stewart insisted: “I want to be clear, I’m not saying everything is fine.

“I’ve been a football fan my entire life, I’ve been in that position, we’re all frustrated. 

“If I look at the away results, the record is there, it’s been discussed, it’s not good and it’s not what’s expected for Rangers. 

“So we are working with Philippe to address consistency issues and I’m also not going to speculate on what happens if results don’t improve.

“I spent time with Philippe, I spent a lot of time with Philippe at Auchenhowie.

“I was with Philippe last night, and we discussed the need, the imperative for results to improve. 

“If results don’t improve, obviously I can’t give Philippe any cast iron guarantees. 

“He and I have both been around football long enough to know that isn’t the case.

“Football is results-based and I’m not offering any guarantees as to length of tenure because it’s all about improving results.

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‘Equally, I’m not going to get into how many games does Philippe have to save his job, that’s not what we’re about. 

“We’re about helping Philippe to identify why there is the inconsistency and let’s address that. 

“And again, to be clear, sticking with Philippe isn’t about trying to avoid a tough decision.

“In fact, I think if anything, changing a manager would be the easy decision, because a lot of supporters are calling for that. 

“I’m aware of that, I’ve seen the statements.  

“But I think that would be easy and I’m looking at this from a long-term perspective and thinking what’s in the best interests of the club. 

“So, I’m putting the club first, not my own interests and whether this decision is going to be viewed as positive or negative.

‘I’m really thinking about the club first.”

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