New Rangers CEO Stewart is ‘cautiously optimistic’ about the future… and insists there has been progress under manager Clement

Patrick Stewart has given a clear indication that he’s right behind Philippe Clement as Rangers manager.

The chief executive officer officially began his new role at the club on Monday but had already held discussions with the Belgian.

 

Clement, who described the talks as ‘really good’, had been under serious pressure when the Ibrox club first confirmed that former Manchester United interim CEO Stewart would succeed James Bisgrove.

 

Despite losing to Celtic on penalties in Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup final, Clement has recently guided the team to victories over Nice, St Johnstone, Kilmarnock and Ross County, with another impressive performance coming in the draw with Tottenham in the Europa League.

 

In his first interview since starting his new job, Stewart effectively gave his backing to Clement on the basis of what he’d recently witnessed on the park.

 

‘There has been a lot for us to be cautiously optimistic about in recent weeks,’ he said.

I know the signings we made in the summer are starting to really bed in and play with a degree of confidence.

In fairness to Philippe, he always said it would take time. You always say: “When will that time come?” and we have seen that in the last few weeks.

 

‘The match with Spurs really showed Rangers going head-to-head with a top Premier League side and it was a match we all felt we should have won.

 

‘The performances in the SPFL have been really positive. We are scoring, not conceding.

 

‘Of course, the cup final – I don’t want to dwell on it again, but it could have been such a memorable day. We have a lot to be positive about.’

 

Clement felt his side were wrongly denied a penalty at Hampden when Celtic defender Liam Scales’ foul on Vaclav Cerny was deemed to have taken place just outside the box.

 

Confirming that one of his first tasks on Monday was to seek clarity on behalf of the club, Stewart added: ‘The manner which we lost was hard to take.