Rangers dealing in Clement screams out a message but doubt remains over his missing style of play – Keith Jackson

No league title has ever been won or lost on its opening weekend. And particularly not here, in the Forrest Gump chocolate box of the Scottish game.

But even so, when Rangers opened it all up on Saturday lunchtime by leaving two points behind at Tynecastle, it didn’t feel in the least bit surprising. There is absolutely nothing about the Ibrox club right now which makes it feel, look or sound capable of offering up a genuine, credible challenge to Celtic’s Premiership crown.

On the contrary, more than 24 hours before a ball had been kicked on Gorgie Road it did seem like some sort of concession was being made when it was announced that manager Philippe Clement has been handed a new deal, tying him down until 2028. It’s difficult to work out if this was a white flag or a red one because it screamed out a message that Rangers supporters are just going to have to like or lump the big Belgian for the foreseeable future, regardless of results.

Chairman John Bennett will be hoping, of course, that by posing for a photo with Clement and his new contract, he was helping to paint a picture of unity and certainty. And that a calamitous era of managerial chopping and changing has now come to an end. It’s meant to represent a decisive shift towards a more orderly future and a signal the men in command are finally ready to move forward in lockstep.

Who knows? Maybe that’s exactly how it will look in years from now, if Clement is given the time, funds and patience required to turn his long term vision for Rangers into reality. But that’s assuming he knows what he’s doing. Yes, this club has been locked into a vicious cycle of short termism for too long and it’s left them with an ageing squad, heavy with high earners but light on