Rangers sack Clement after St Mirren defeat
Rangers sacked Philippe Clement just a day after their shock defeat to St Mirren left them 13 points behind Scottish Premiership leader Celtic.
Clement's side had won each of its last five league games before the 2-0 defeat at home to St Mirren.
The 50 year-old had been under pressure this season after struggling to match Celtic's usual consistency before this month's Scottish Cup loss at home to Queen's Park increased murmurs of discontent.
Rangers also lost the Scottish League Cup final against Celtic on penalties, and the club confirmed Clement's dismissal on Sunday, despite the Belgian guiding his side into the Europa League last-16 stage.
"The club would like to put on record their sincere thanks to Philippe for his hard work and dedication during his spell in charge," Rangers said in a short statement.
"A further update from the club will follow in due course."
A league win over Celtic at Ibrox in January temporarily eased the pressure but further dropped points at Hibernian and Dundee added to the growing calls for Clement's removal.
The club's chief executive Patrick Stewart indicated last week, however, that Rangers' European progress could stop a potential manager change while they remained in the competition.
A two-legged clash with Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce awaits in March for a place in the quarter-finals, though Rangers will head into that clash expecting a new face to be on the touchline.
It may come as somewhat of a surprise considering Clement signed a new one-year contract extension last August, with Rangers only appointing the Belgian's new assistant Issame Charai last month.
Clement leaves with a record of 55 wins from his 86 games in charge, drawing 16 and losing 15.
Rangers visit Kilmarnock in their next league clash on Wednesday before Motherwell travel to Ibrox.
