Former Rangers favourite to immediately replace Philippe Clement as manager

The Scottish side have parted ways with the 50-year-old with a 2-0 defeat to St Mirren at Ibrox leaving them 13 points adrift of Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic.

Rangers' defeat to St Mirren was their first since 1991, with Gers experiencing a number of other setbacks this season.

Their Scottish Cup hopes were ended by Championship side Queen's Park and lost the League Cup final to Celtic - the Europa League remains their only chance of silverware this season.

The decision to dismiss the Belgian boss comes just seven months after he was given a one-year contract extension and only weeks after appointing his new assistant, Issame Charai.

A club statement read: "Rangers Football Club can confirm it has tonight parted company with men's first-team manager, Philippe Clement.

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"The club would like to put on record their sincere thanks to Philippe for his hard work and dedication during his spell in charge.

"A further update from the club will follow in due course."

Last month, Rangers chief executive Patrick Stewart publicly backed Clement, despite mounting pressure from fans.

The former Manchester United executive, who joined the Ibrox boardroom in December, admitted sacking the manager would have been 'the easy decision' in response to fan frustration.

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Stewart argued that his experience at Old Trafford showed that frequent managerial changes are ineffective.

However, he acknowledged that Clement needed to deliver better results, offering no 'cast-iron guarantees' over his future.

Despite Stewart reaffirming his support for Clement following the Scottish Cup exit, the continued poor form had left the club with no choice.

Stewart will now oversee the search for Rangers' fifth permanent manager since November 2021.

Clement has been at the side since 2023 after spells at Genk, Club Brugge and Monaco.

During his time at Rangers, the side won the Scottish League Cup once, which came last season.

talkSPORT understands that former Gers midfielder Ferguson is set to be handed the job until the end of the season.

He will meet with the club on Monday to discuss the role and is a popular figure at Ibrox having played more than 400 times for them.

Former manager Steven Gerrard has been linked with the role but talkSPORT understands he would be unlikely to take it before April due to potential tax issues in Saudi Arabia, but a move in the summer cannot be ruled out.

Despite difficult spells in charge of Aston Villa and Saudi Arabian club Al Ettifaq, Gerrard is revered by Rangers fans following his three-year spell at the helm in Glasgow.

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The highlight saw Rangers claim the Scottish Premiership title in the 2020/21 season, preventing rivals Celtic from achieving an unprecedented ten-in-a-row in the process.

Rangers next face Kilmarnock and Motherwell in the league before they take on Turkish side Fenerbahce in the Europa League.

Ally McCoist's verdict

Rangers legend Ally McCoist gave his view on the current situation at his old club following Clement's sacking.

He said: "They are miles behind Celtic. It's a good job if you get back. Their recruitment has been shocking, it really has.

"The one thing you've got to do as a Rangers manager is beat Celtic, and if you're Celtic manager you have to beat Rangers.

"It's relatively simple. To be a success you have to win the league and beat Celtic.

"Despite the 3-0 win a few weeks back, they are a good way behind them on and off the pitch.

"The gulf between the two clubs is massive.

"Anybody going in there is going to have to take the place by the scruff of the neck and give it a right good shake.

"They are going to have to be backed by new owners, who will hopefully back the new manager financially.

"What the fans are finding it difficult to accept is a lack of fight and lack of desire. The Rangers football team is weak on the pitch. They are a team you would love to play against.

"Sadly, there is a weakness off the pitch too."

There was a couple of names who McCoist tipped to be good candidates for the job at Ibrox.

He continued: "Stevie Gerrard would be in the conversation. Kevin Muscat has won three different leagues in three different countries.

"There's one or two options, but there are not any glaring options."

McCoist himself is a former Rangers manager and steered them through the toughest time in their history when they were relegated to the bottom tier of Scottish football.

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talkSPORT host Jeff Stelling asked if he would give up his many punditry jobs to help Rangers out, which sent him into fits of laughter.

He replied: "I'd drop everything for the Rangers! Including you!"