Barry Ferguson Slams Rangers and Philippe Clement Amid Sack Calls
Barry Ferguson has not held back in his latest remarks on Rangers and under-fire manager Philippe Clement.
The former club captain weighed in on the growing calls for Clement’s dismissal after Rangers’ shocking Scottish Cup exit to Queen’s Park at Ibrox on Sunday (9 February). With domestic silverware now out of reach, Clement’s side must quickly refocus as they travel to Hearts for their return to Scottish Premiership action this weekend.
Clement Would Have Been Sacked on Sunday
Ferguson, a vocal critic of Clement in recent months, believes that if the club intended to sack the Belgian, it would have happened immediately after the humiliating defeat.
Queen’s Park secured a 1-0 victory with their only shot on target, while Rangers captain James Tavernier missed a late penalty, sealing an embarrassing early cup exit.
Speaking on the Go Radio Football Show (12 February), Ferguson described the situation at Ibrox as a “disaster” and a “hammer blow” for the club.
“He’ll still be in charge for Sunday’s trip to Tynecastle—if a change was coming, it would’ve happened right after the game,” the ex-midfielder admitted. “But that result was disastrous. The performance was well below expectations.
“Rangers lacked the quality needed to break Queen’s Park down, they had no answers in the final third, and only started playing after conceding.
“The Scottish Cup is the trophy you want, especially with Celtic 13 points clear in the league. It was a huge setback, and the fans have every right to be upset. It’s just not good enough.”
Only Pride Left to Play For
With the league title all but out of reach, Rangers’ only remaining source of excitement this season is the Europa League, where they will learn their last-16 opponents next Friday (21 February). Their recent win over Union Saint-Gilloise (30 January) secured a top-eight finish in the league phase, offering a rare bright spot in what has been a disappointing campaign by the club’s usual standards.
Beyond their European ambitions—where fans will hope for another magical run like in 2022—there is little left for Rangers to play for. Their second-place league finish is all but guaranteed, with no realistic chance of catching Celtic or slipping further down the table.
Despite mounting pressure from supporters, Clement remains in charge, with key decision-makers—most notably CEO Patrick Stewart—publicly backing him. However, Stewart’s credibility has taken a hit since reaffirming his stance on the manager’s future.
As Rangers prepare to return to Tynecastle—where they opened the season with a goalless draw against Hearts on 3 August—Clement faces yet another must-win match under intense scrutiny. Fans will be watching closely, waiting to see if the team can salvage some pride.
