Rangers delivered one of their worst performances of the season in a 1-0 defeat to Queen’s Park in the Scottish Cup on Sunday.
This latest setback means the Gers have now been eliminated from every domestic cup competition they had a realistic chance of winning. While they remain in the Europa League, their chances of success in Europe look slim, especially after their dismal display against Callum Davidson’s side on 9 February.
At times, it has seemed like Philippe Clement was making progress with his Rangers squad, only for the team to stumble again, taking one step forward and two steps back. It’s no surprise that Daily Record journalist Andy Newport has described this as a “crisis point” for the club.
Philippe Clement’s Position at Rangers Looks Increasingly Precarious
Clement’s tenure at Ibrox appears to be hanging by a thread after overseeing his side’s exit from what was likely their last real shot at silverware this season.
Supporters have been calling for the Belgian’s departure for some time, and this defeat may have been the final straw for many. Speaking on Daily Record’s Hotline Live (9 February), Newport shared some insights he had gathered following the loss.
“I’ve seen some bad days here, especially recently, but this is right up there with the worst. This is now a crisis point for the club,” Newport said.
“They have a manager who has lost the respect, trust, and faith of the fans. I’m not sure of the details, but there were murmurs of small protests outside the stadium after the match. How significant those were, I can’t say, but I’ve heard a few rumors.
“This is now a major crisis for Philippe Clement.”
Patrick Stewart Must Decide Clement’s Fate
For many supporters, there is no coming back from Sunday’s humiliating defeat to Queen’s Park.
Clement may have earned some goodwill by securing Europa League knockout-stage qualification, but that has now evaporated following Rangers’ Scottish Cup exit. While the Scottish Cup might not have been the club’s top priority at the start of the season, their narrow Scottish League Cup final defeat to Celtic in December made it their last real opportunity for domestic success.
Fans had hoped to see at least one trophy added to the cabinet, but with that dream now shattered, it’s difficult to see why chairman Patrick Stewart would continue backing Clement.
With nearly half the season remaining, a change in management might be necessary to inject fresh energy into the squad. Otherwise, Rangers risk seeing their campaign drift further into disappointment.
