The 'unacceptable' Rangers narrative with Celtic racing for 55 as Philippe Clement must be allowed to restore tradition

The clock is ticking down to the moment of truth for Philippe Clement and his team. But Davie Robertson just hopes the big Belgian gets the time to put things right at Rangers.

We’re three days out from their Premiership campaign getting under way at Tynecastle and it’s only once the opening whistle blows in Gorgie that the Light Blues legions will get to see whether their team are as badly prepared as they fear. A summer schedule that delivered two draws, three defeats and 10 goals against set off alarm bells among a support already teetering on the brink of panic on the back of the board’s Copland Road construction fiasco.

Given some of the statements from their manager in recent weeks – most notably his admission the financial picture had changed from the one he was presented with when he was hired in October – some fans are openly speculating on how long it will take Clement to grow fed-up with the chaos surrounding him at Ibrox. Even if the former Club Brugge and Monaco boss does stick it out, it is unlikely to be a quick fix with his team realistically at least five players short of mounting anything close to a title tilt. That opens up the potential for him to get caught in the crossfire of punters’ volleys of flak.

But Robertson has urged fans to bear in mind the feats he achieved last term before injuries took their toll on the club’s trophy drive. The nine-in-a-row legend told Record Sport : “Regardless of what happens, the manager has to be given time. You just can’t keep changing managers.

“ Rangers ’ tradition has been stability in the manager’s office – there have only been 19 men in 152 years. Whatever happens, Clement needs to be given the time and support to rebuild the team himself.

“Hopefully