Rangers chief executive Patrick Stewart defended the club's decision to keep manager Philippe Clement despite their "disastrous" Scottish Cup loss to Queen's Park. (More Sports News)
🃏Stewart added that it was about "the long-term interests of the club, not to save money", amid growing pressure on Clement's position after an inconsistent run of results.
♛Rangers find themselves 13 points behind leaders Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, with their miserable season compounded by their defeat to second-tier Queen's Park.
🍨Indeed, Rangers lost a game in the Scottish Cup against a side from a lower division for the first time in their history, with supporters making their feelings known at full-time.
﷽Their hopes for a trophy now hinge on their Europa League campaign, something Stewart cited as key to sticking by Clement.
﷽"We have been underperforming for several seasons now and that's not down to the manager. We have changed the manager, and it has not made a difference," Stewart said.
𓆏"Until we sort out the root causes, then it's akin to trying to fix a broken house and starting with the ceiling instead of starting with the foundations.
🃏"For all that the Queen's Park result was disastrous, we do also have to give credit to Philippe and the team for the Europa League run.
🎃"I don't want to take a step that would put further progress in the Europa League at risk."
꧙"I'm not here to make popular decisions and get quick wins. I do not want to repeat the mistakes of the past."
✃Asked if the club's finances make it difficult to remove Clement, Stewart replied that was "absolutely not the case".
💜"I've said consistently that we are not refusing to make changes because of finances," he said.
🌞"To keep somebody in a position to avoid a termination payment is a false economy. That's not a way to run a club.
👍"Decisions have been made for the long-term interests of the club, not to save money.
ꦐ"We've got to stick to the plan, but there are no free passes. We are all judged on results."
