The Philippe Clement at Rangers jury is IN as case for the prosecution rages with argument for the defence

Belgian boss Philippe Clement stands accused of presiding over one of the worst results in Rangers’ 153-year history.

The Gers faithful have on the whole reached their verdict when it comes to the beleaguered Belgian following last week’s Queen’s Park debacle. And an overwhelming majority reckon the only suitable punishment is banishment from Ibrox.

But it seems the Light Blues board are not yet convinced Clement should be condemned to history following his side’s humiliating Scottish Cup exit at the hands of Callum Davidson’s Championship Spiders. There’s been not a peep out of any of the club’s senior figures since the disastrous defeat but the pressure has yet to relent.

Sunday’s win over Hearts granted Clement with a stay of execution but he’ll be back in the dock again if his side slip up this weekend when St Mirren visit. While the Rangers directors continue their own deliberations, Record Sport decided to take a look at the arguments for sacking the Ibrox gaffer … and the mitigating reasons the board will point to if they decide to grant him another reprieve.

Queen’s catastrophe

Put simply, there is plenty who will believe that losing at home to lower league opposition in the Scottish Cup for the first time was a sackable offence in itself - regardless of whatever else has gone on. It’s a result that will go down alongside the likes of Berwick Rangers in 1967 or Hamilton 20 years later in the Ibrox hall of shame.

Clement’s camp will point out that neither of those infamous results resulted in managerial change at Ibrox - but Scott Symon responded to the Berwick shock by leading his side to a European final just four months later while Graeme Souness’ side bounced back from their Accies aberration to be crowned