Philippe Clement issued a Rangers sack warning, and the result that could trigger his departure before Halloween.

Rangers manager Philippe Clement is under increasing scrutiny from his own fans following Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Kilmarnock, which dashed their title hopes.

The Ibrox side had the opportunity to reduce the gap between Celtic and Aberdeen at the top of the William Hill Premiership to three points after the top two drew 2-2 at Parkhead on Saturday. However, the defeat left Rangers six points behind after eight league games, just one point ahead of fourth-placed Dundee United.

Clement appears to have the Rangers board’s support for the time being, but he is struggling to maintain fan support, with many calling for a change following a string of setbacks and poor performances.

His year-long tenure began with a League Cup final victory over Aberdeen and a 17-game unbeaten streak, but dropped points against Ross County and Dundee in the final weeks of last season cost Rangers a title shot.

They also lost the Scottish Cup final to Celtic before losing 3-0 in the current season’s opening Old Firm derby, leaving Clement’s record in the crucial Glasgow derby at four defeats and one draw. A tame Champions League exit at the hands of Dynamo Kyiv, as well as a goalless draw against Hearts on the first day – the only point earned by the Jambos in their first six games – were added to the list of disappointments.

The Belgian has won only nine of his last 18 league games, and league sponsors William Hill have set odds of 5/4 for the 50-year-old to be fired before Christmas. Chris Sutton, a former Celtic striker turned pundit, believes Clement could be relieved of his duties by Halloween if things do not improve quickly.

Rangers will face Steaua Bucharest in the Europa League on Thursday before hosting St Mirren on Sunday. But Sutton believes the trip to Pittodrie to face Jimmy Thelin’s unbeaten Dons side on Wednesday, October 30, will make or break his tenure.

He told the It’s All Kicking Off podcast: “Philippe Clement has said ‘I need time’ and I get that, there’s been a massive overhaul.

“But it’s okay – as there was after the Celtic game – when there’s 200 fans standing outside Ibrox and shouting their dissatisfaction. But when that mob grows and it’s 1000, 2000 or 5,000, then there’s gonna be trouble.

“They’ve got Steaua Bucharest in the Europa League on Thursday. They’ve got St Mirren at home then they’ve got Aberdeen away. Now that’s a huge game because if the gap stays at six points to Aberdeen and then Aberdeen widen that gap to nine points, that’s when I think Philippe Clement could come under severe pressure because Rangers fans will just now accept that. There’s no disrespect to Aberdeen, but I think that will be a turning point if Rangers lose that one.”

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