Standards fallen? The Rangers has been rather consistent to be fair

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The Celtic Star

·13 Januari 2025

Standards fallen? The Rangers has been rather consistent to be fair

After Celtic’s well earned victory over Ross County on Saturday afternoon sent us 18 points clear at the top, we could afford to put our feet up on a relaxing Sunday afternoon in the full knowledge we would still be in a good position whatever the outcome elsewhere.

Fans of theRangers display a tifo which reads ‘our loyalty is not a free pass for failure’, prior to the Premiership match between theRangers and St. Johnstone at Ibrox on January 12, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Elsewhere meaning Ibrox where theRangers took on bottom of the table St Johnstone in what for the home side was a bit of a powder-keg fixture, not because of the opposition, but more what was happening off the field.

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It was well publicised that the wannabe ultras the Union Bears where planning a mass walk out early in the second half of the game in protest at their club’s hierarchy, due to what they believe was a case of ‘fallen standards’. Maybe they should be visiting top iPhone Casinos in New Zealand – make a smart choice and perhaps win the funds needed to pay off the Belgian Waffler themselves. They want the removal of their manager Philippe Clement whereas the club has given the Belgian a vote of confidence, the common consensus being that theRangers simply don’t have the money to sack him after he was given a contract extension earlier this season.

Philippe Clement, Head Coach of theRangers, looks on at the Premiership match between theRangers and St. Johnstone at Ibrox on January 12, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Apparently it would cost £2.5m to remove Philippe Clement from his post and that’s money that the latest Ibrox club simply can’t afford to spend.

Patrick Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of theRangers, looks on prior to the Premiership match between Rangers and St. Johnstone at Ibrox on January 12, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The Union Bears are of course entitled to their opinion and like supporters from every other club are free to air their displeasure at their club’s custodians when necessary, as after all, they do pay good money to follow the club home and away.

But it does look a bit self entitled when they start talking about their so called standards. What exactly are those standards they speak of?

For example some Celtic supporters took a stand when they publicly aired their feelings during a disastrous Covid Season which saw our club fail to win a single trophy. But that was due to our own standards not just slipping, but plummeting after enjoying a decade of success which seen us rack up title after title, including a historic quadruple treble.

What standard can theRangers supporters claim has ‘fallen’? They after all sit in second place and face the possibility of finishing the season without a major trophy. Something they have been firmly accustomed to since their club’s formation in 2012. I’d call that rather consistent to be fair.

The half-time scoreline was 3-0 and apparently theRangers played quite well against the bottom side, now well adrift and heading for relegation. That made sure of the points but St Johnstone pulled one back with a deliciously timed goal just as the 55th minute protest was about to begin.

A section of theRangers fans leave the stadium in protest on 55 minutes during the Premiership match between theRangers and St. Johnstone at Ibrox on January 12, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

What followed was Bear-on-Bear friction with the Union Bears leaving the stadium as planned and the majority of the other supporters turning on them, with numerous reports of exiting fans being hit on the head with coins, just as happened to Celtic’s Arne Engels at Ibrox at the start of the month. It seems that the support has plenty of money to throw around even if their new club hasn’t.

theRangers fans show support despite a section of fans walking out on 55 minutes in protest during the Premiership match between theRangers and St. Johnstone at Ibrox on January 12, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

So Philippe Clement is safe for now. The Union Bears tried and failed to organise a mass protest but the majority of the Ibrox supporters sided with the club and turned against the Ultras.

Celtic remain 15 points clear and can increase that back to 18 points tomorrow night with a victory at Dens Park against Dundee. Then 24 hours later Aberdeen visit Ibrox and the fall-out to Sunday’s failed coup will be seen. Will the Union Bears show up? If so will they remain silent as they did on Sunday? How will the rest of their support react? What happens if Jimmy Thelin can turn around Aberdeen’s fortunes that collapsed after Celtic burst their bubble at Hampden?

It’s going to be an interesting midweek in the Scottish Premiership.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy