FOR too long Philippe Clement’s been left to face the music on all manner of uncomfortable Rangers issues.
Effectively a heat shield for a board without proper executive leadership after the exits of James Bisgrove and John Bennett.
Philippe Clement commiserates with Hagi over the penalty as Leon King comes on[/caption]
Alistair Johnston, Patrick Stewart, Fraser Thornton, Steven Davis[/caption]
But no longer, and yesterday at the club’s Milngavie training base it wasn’t hard to detect Clement’s delight that there’s now a new CEO, Patrick Stewart, and chairman, Fraser Thornton, to front up.
Indeed, the Gers boss once again stated Stewart will be publicly addressing the club’s January transfer window plans within the next week.
Clement, of course, already knows the score.
And while he didn’t exactly say he was full of joy over what spending scope he’ll have, he did make it clear he’s not complaining.
Clement’s also still 100-per-cent motivated to make the best from what he’s got – because he knows he’ll never get a blank cheque-book at Ibrox.
His squad strength has been left devastated by the injury absences of Jack Butland, Leon Balogun, James Tavernier, John Souttar, Neraysho Kasanwirjo and Tom Lawrence while Dujon Sterling is a doubt for Dens Park.
But there will be no sizeable fortune to bring in reinforcements.
Quizzed directly by SunSport if he was satisfied with the budget available to him, the Belgian smiled wryly and said: “That is a difficult question.
“So, every manager wants more.
“But I’m realistic, so what is possible for the club I will work really hard to get the best out of that.
“That’s for a lot of managers in the world like that.
“There aren’t many clubs where you can get a blank cheque-book to do whatever you want. It doesn’t happen so much.
“I know what the situation of the club is, I know what the plan is,I know it is a long term plan.
“I engage myself fully into that, so I am not going to complain about it.
“Like I said, we all want to do our role in the club…just wait a few days and you will get answers.”
Clement acknowledged he’d had a difficult conversation with Stewart over what’s available at a club desperately trying to be financially stronger.
He said: “Of course, because I want to win every game.
“I want to have the best team.
“I want to have the best squad.
“It is also a challenge as a manager not only to buy the best squad but also to MAKE the best squad.
“It’s even a better challenge than to buy one, although it is also a challenge to spend your money really well.
“So, I went into the challenge to make the best squad with all these people. It is not only me, it is a lot of people in this club, to make the best squad.
“And that’s what we’re going for every day.
“In moments, in several moments, they have shown over the last couple of months – but not consistently like is needed here.
“We’re pushing that button a lot, a lot every day.
“Of course it is important that the fans know what the plans of the club are.
“So, Patrick is totally involved in that way also towards the fans and everybody outside of the club also.
“He will address what the plan is for the club for January.
“There is no club in the world who is happy when there are so many centre-backs out.
“But it is about finding solutions and that is what we have been doing the last couple of weeks, like for example putting Ridvan at right full-back and doing a really good job there.
“We need to be creative in that way to have a good level with the defence and not concede the goals we did against Hibs from the set-pieces.
“That annoyed me a lot, that we lost not with open play chances but set-pieces – so that is what we addressed and I need to make choices around this game because it is also one of the strengths of Dundee.”
Whenever asked about a lack of squad depth, Clement can’t resist making comparisons with far richer Celtic.
He said: “It’s something that is necessary in seasons like now, with that amount of games.
“We had talks about it.
“I don’t read everything, but people tell me things sometimes.
“There’s been a lot of fuss about rotation. I explained it is a normal thing.
“It’s not only a normal thing here, look at the weekend…our rivals in this city, how many players did they change from the weekend before?
“And they spent £30 million in the summer on players who are not all the time in the starting eleven.
“Or by far not.
“So, yes, it is an important part.
“We don’t have the same cheque-book in that way, so we have to work hard to make it better by getting talents in or to get players out of our academy, even better.”
Vaclav Cerny with Callum McGregor[/caption]
On the latter front, Clement revealed kid midfielder Bailey Rice, 18, will be promoted to the first team dressing room following tonight’s game.
And his thoughts on Tony Docherty’s Dundee?
Clement added: “I have a lot of respect for Tony. His team is always very competitive, they make it really difficult for opponents.
“They are really good in transition, they have a lot of good players in transition.
“Three front players really good in that way.
“Lyle Cameron also, a very good midfielder, creative midfielder, with decisive action in the last pass and a good solid base behind him also.
“We need to take lessons out of the Hibs game.
“Not in structure, but in being competitive in duels, to win those duels more.”
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