Ex Rangers star claims Philippe Clement 'worked wonders' after inheriting shambolic side that could have finished FIFTH

Former Rangers star Derek Ferguson reckons the Ibrox side could have finished as low as FIFTH in the Scottish Premiership if Michael Beale had stayed in charge as he challenged fellow ex-Light Blues man Kevin Kyle on his claim it was a disappointing outcome to the season.

Rangers were seven points behind Celtic when Philippe Clement succeeded axed Beale with the Belgian winning the League Cup and then hauling them back into the title race only to blow it from the position of favourites for the league flag and then losing the Scottish Cup final to their rivals who completed a double.

Speaking on the Open Goal podcast Kyle, who spent a season at Ibrox when the club where in the lower leagues, said: “I think they will be disappointed with their season considering the position they got themselves in after the 3-3 draw at home to Celtic. If they had taken that game to Celtic at Ibrox and won that game then they would have been clear with one Old Firm game to go. Then Celtic would have been relying on Rangers to drop points.”

But Ferguson, who won five major honours including two league titles during his time at Rangers, argued: “I’m speaking as a Rangers fan here. They were an absolute shambles. But what happened later was that the players got themselves into a position where they had an opportunity to win it and mentally they weren’t strong enough. They couldn’t handle it. That’s nothing to do with Philippe Clement.

“He worked wonders with that group of players at times because if Michael Beale had stayed they would have finished fourth or fifth. What he achieved with that group - in terms of injuries and mentality - was unbelievable."