PHIL FITS THE BILL

I knew right away Clement had presence... my only concern was West of Scotland. But he gets it

- MICHAEL GANNON

 » Gers are different team now from when Beale was boss... they are so close to being top dogs

SAYS GRAEME SOUNESS

GRAEME SOUNESS sat across from Philippe Clement in the Rangers managerial recruitment process and sensed the Belgian could have the chops to be Ibrox boss. 

Now he knows it. Forget the minor stooshy about

the Light Blues legend endorsing Frank Lampard rather than Clement for the role.

Souness admitted on national radio around the time of the appointment he felt the former Chelsea and Everton gaffer would be a good fit for Rangers.

Some fans jumped on the line but the Scotland great was keen to clarify that didn’t mean Clement wasn’t.

Far from it. S o u n e ss w a s s e r i o u s ly

impressed by the ex-Monaco manager and that option has only been strengthened given the start he’s made to life in Glasgow.

The Rangers job is not for the faint of heart. Souness knows it more than most.

Incredibly, when you look back on it, he took it on at just 33-yearsold and went on to revolutionise the club and Scottish football.

Souness was young but he knew the landscape – and that was the only niggling doubt he had in his mind over Clement.

But those questions have already been answered.

Clement has delivered the League Cup and got Gers back into the Premiership title race.

The 10-man defeat to Celtic in the East End was a blow but Souness saw enough, even that day, to suggest the Belgian is the right man to take the fight right to the wire.

Souness said: “When I was interviewing him it was clear he had stature. He holds the room when he speaks.