Super Eagles and Rangers players Leon Balogun and Cyriel Kolawole Dessers are set to undergo a managerial change, as Philippe Clement has been dismissed from his position as head coach at the club.

Clement, a Belgian coach, took over the reins at Ibrox in October 2023, spending 16 months in charge. During his tenure, he led the team to 55 wins, 18 draws, and 16 losses, achieving a 64.1% win rate and an average of 2.1 points per game.

While these statistics may seem respectable on the surface, they do not reflect the full picture. Clement’s inability to secure the league title or the League Cup last season, both of which were claimed by rivals Celtic, raised concerns. Additionally, Rangers find themselves 13 points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership this season.

Rangers’ inconsistent form this season intensified discussions surrounding Clement’s future, but it was following a 2-0 defeat to St. Mirren that the club’s leadership made the decision to part ways with him.

In response to questions about his future after the loss, Clement said, “I am not concerned with those questions. My focus is on finding solutions to bring Rangers back to the level they should be at. I am not interested in hypothetical discussions.”

He added, “The team appeared nervous today. Perhaps they wanted to perform too well, to react and give the fans more. We need to identify the root cause of this and address it with the team. Ultimately, it’s my responsibility to ensure they are mentally prepared for the match.”

“I apologize to the fans on behalf of myself and the team. This performance was far below the standards expected of Rangers,” Clement continued. “I’m always committed to fighting until the end, and my task now is to get the team into the right mindset. That was not the case today, and I must find a solution.”

According to Sky Sports, Rangers are preparing to part ways with Clement and are already considering interim managerial options.

As reported by Herald Scotland, Rangers’ CEO, Patrick Stewart, had previously shown support for Clement after the team’s Scottish Cup exit to Queen’s Park. Stewart had also cited the club’s progression in the Europa League as a key factor in allowing Clement to continue as manager. However, his tenure at Rangers has now come to an end.

Following the defeat to St. Mirren, former Rangers striker Kris Boyd called for Clement’s dismissal, and his request seems to have been granted. Boyd criticized the team’s lack of structure, stating, “It has been declining for months. There is no structure to anything, and that starts from the top.”

Reports from Liverpool Echo suggest that Rangers are considering bringing back former manager Steven Gerrard to replace Clement. Gerrard, who was recently dismissed by Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq, previously achieved significant success at Ibrox, including securing Rangers’ first league title in a decade while remaining unbeaten, denying Celtic their tenth consecutive league title.