The hidden John Gilligan benefit for Rangers as new chairman solves one Philippe Clement problem

Philippe Clement reckons he’s busier than ever having to get to grips with Rangers’ raft of Europa League opponents, writes Andy Newport from Malmo.

But he’s mightily relieved that at least he no longer has the role of explaining the behind-the-scenes shenanigans on his plate with John Gilligan now running the show at Ibrox. Clement has been forced to act as club spokesman in recent weeks as all manner of things have gone wrong amid a shambolic summer.

From a stuttering transfer window to the Copland stand cock-up and even run-ins with fans, it was the big Belgian who was sent out to try and clear up just what was going on to scunnered supporters. But new interim chairman Gilligan has vowed to step up and take that burden off his boss, starting this week with a press conference designed in part to dispel Dave King’s assertion that Gers are a club in crisis.

That’s come as a huge relief to Clement, who has enough on his hands tonight making sure Rangers end a dismal Malmo record that stands at played four, won none. Speaking ahead of Gers opening fixture in the new-look competition - which will see them play eight different teams between now and January - he said: “It’s an interesting thing now as a staff with this new formula in the Europa League.

“Before you had a group stage with four teams, so you have three opponents, so you analyse them three times and then you have your game that you can analyse to show the players for the next game. Now it will be eight times, analysing a totally different team. So it's a lot more work to do, but it's also more challenging, and I think it's interesting for everyone.

“Of course, as a manager you want to talk about football and about the things you are doing. And we had too many