Alex Rae admits trying to copy Celtic blueprint cost Philippe Clement his Rangers job

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Celtic’s dominance of Scottish football has cost many Rangers managers their Ibrox gig.

Since 2000, Celtic’strophy success has been unmatched as the Parkhead club were recognised this season as Scotland’s most successful football team.

With 119 trophies and the potential of adding 120 & 121 this season, Celtic have seen off various challengers from Ibrox as the Bhoys rack up record after record in their relentless pursuit of success.

The latest Ibrox victim of that success was former Rangers boss Philippe Clement who was relieved of his duties after falling 16 points behind Celtic in the league and suffering a humiliating Scottish Cup exit to Queen’s Park.

Speaking about Clement’s departure, one of his ex-coaches, Alex Rae admits that trying to copy a vital Celtic blueprint led to his and the Belgian’s Ibrox downfall.

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Copying Celtic’s player-trading model cost Philippe Clement at Rangers

Rae told The Go Radio Football Show [28m 50s], “Unfortunately, when he came in, for me, it was probably a real transitional period where if you think of the players who went out in the summer.

“Connor Goldson, John Lundstram, Borna Barisic, and there’ll be an argument to say that they were coming towards the end of their time. Kemar Roofe, guys who had done well to get them to Seville and win them the league title a couple of years ago.

“And what they were trying to do was trying to get a sustainable model with buying younger players and then developing them. Similar to what Celtic do, really.

“But in doing that they took a helluva lot of experience out of the camp as well. And these guys were learning on the ground. “I think there’s a balance to be had with actually getting rid of that much experience.

“But listen, it was needed as well because obviously the wage budget was reduced significantly in the summer.”

Philippe Clement’s woeful record as Rangers manager vs Celtic

Clement came to Glasgow with a decent reputation as a manager who had success at various other clubs and there was real high hopes (from Ibrox and some in the media, possibly?) that he could help topple Celtic.

However, when it came to the crunch, Clement’s record against Celtic as Rangers boss was just as woeful as his predecessors.

With one in seven, Clement’s job was already on a shaky peg, but with Barry Ferguson in charge at Ibrox now, there is a new dimension and twist added to the next Glasgow Derby at Celtic Park.