Philippe Clement needs to tread carefully to avoid losing the trust of Rangers supporters, as his authority has noticeably diminished since his strong start last season, according to former midfielder Derek Ferguson.
Clement has seen his reputation take a hit after the team’s form crumbled, and they lost their lead in the title race. A frustrating summer transfer window failed to fully address squad weaknesses, and those concerns were confirmed with a heavy 3-0 loss to Celtic at Parkhead on 1 September.
Following the defeat, Clement faced criticism for trying to downplay the significance of the loss by referencing a 6-0 victory over Ross County a week earlier on 24 August. He suggested the Celtic result was less damaging in light of the earlier win. Ferguson, however, found that response ill-judged, branding it “ridiculous.”
Ferguson cautioned Clement against underestimating Rangers fans’ ability to see through such comments. “Rangers fans are not stupid,” Ferguson said. “So just tell it the way it is—don’t try and make excuses, don’t try and kid us on. Because if you do that, fans see right through you, even board members.”
Ferguson highlighted that Clement’s impressive early days at Ibrox had given him credibility, but recent results have eroded that trust. “When he first came into the club, I had no doubt. I thought this is the man for the job because he had that authority about him. The players responded well, he was getting results,” Ferguson explained.
“But being beaten by your biggest rival, and beaten easily, don’t go out and make excuses because you can’t fool us,” he added. Clement’s future remains under scrutiny, despite being handed a contract extension before the new season, with concerns that poor performances could still jeopardize his position.