‘Rangers players and fans retain bond’

PHILIPPE Clement has dismissed suggestions the relationship between his Rangers players and their supporters has been damaged by their recent slip-ups in the cinch Premiership following a series of highprofile flashpoints last weekend.

Fabio Silva gestured towards the Union Bears ultras group following his goal in the 4-1 win over Kilmarnock at Ibrox on Sunday and his teammates Borna Barisic and Jack Butland exchanged words with fans when they were signing autographs outside the stadium afterwards.

Clement revealed that how his charges interact with their followers will be changed next season as he gave his thoughts on each of the incidents.

“What is the situation with Borna and Jack?” he said. “At a lot of clubs in the world or here in this city or here in this league they do not give out autographs or pictures, not before the game or after the game. But we do.

And that is maybe the back side of having a team that is doing better and better. There are more demands around that. It is a case of organisation for me. For next season we want to stay a team who stay connected to their fans by giving autographs and pictures, but it needs to be organised much better.”

Asked if he was confident the Rangers players and fans still had a strong bond, Clement (left) said: “Yes, of course, otherwise we don’t have 5-600 people waiting to get autographs and pictures if there is no connection.”

Clement denied that £35m Wolves loanee Silva had aimed his celebration at the Ibrox supporters last Sunday – but he admitted that he had spoken to the Portuguese forward since.

“I have doubts it was towards the Rangers fans,” he said. “But you don’t need those gestures. So I have spoken to him about that. He understands.”