Means Nothing: Concerns raised by Hugh Keevins Rangers fire claim after Clement’s unexpected contract award

So where do things stand for the team and the manager now that Philippe Clement has firmly committed to Rangers for the long run and will stay at Ibrox until 2028?

His first season had ups and downs. He began the season strong and won the League Cup, but while his league (and European) form looked promising at first, his domestic consistency suffered greatly in March, and his lack of experience against Benfica at Ibrox cost Rangers a trip to the Europa League quarterfinals.

In his four attempts to defeat Celtic during the season, he was never even close.

But Rangers have firmly decided that he is the right man, and as supporters, we must have faith in that decision because this is a major commitment from all sides and all in.

Technically speaking, it already was, but the chairman made it very clear that Clement would not be leaving regardless of what transpires in the upcoming season, and the 12-month extension confirmed this.

What does this mean, then?

To be honest? Although we’re not quite giving up on the upcoming campaign just yet, it’s evident that our team lags well behind Celtic’s, and the impression that has emerged from Ibrox is that the rebuild was not merely a summer project but rather a comprehensive remodel that may require some time.

It’s evident that we’re not starting as favourites and that we don’t seem to be “all in” on winning the championship, even though it’s not a surrender of our hopes for the title next season.

Rangers have expressed no opinions regarding a title challenge in 24/25.

This implies that, barring a miracle from Clement with his dismal team, Celtic will most likely score 55 to tie us and likely 56 to surpass us in titles for the first time ever.

It looks like our club answered that call. With Dessers and Jefte on the team, how can they compete with Celtic as it is?

On the one hand, “how dare they,” and “last is last,” but this isn’t 1998, when Dick Advocaat literally bought a whole new group of players with around £35M (which was a far larger sum back then), and all of a sudden he had a world-class squad on his hands. and carried out the same action the following summer as well.

We don’t have that kind of money anymore, and it’s not 1998 any more, so we can’t just fire every player and replace them with elite players. Furthermore, the extent of what we do have is far less than it once was.

Thus, it appears that the Rangers Project is a recently launched initiative.

Are we fond of it? No. We don’t; the goal is to win.

However, the board has decided to start over and have long-term faith in Clement, so we have to follow suit.

Unfortunately, he will still choose James Tavernier at wide receiver and move Dujon Sterling to the left wing.