The key items on the Rangers to-do list after Philippe Clement call

The board have taken their time to be as sure as they can be that they have made the right appointment. Now the supporters will see if that patience has been a virtue after Philippe Clement's appointment on Sunday morning.

Rangers will return to action on Saturday afternoon in what will be the dawn of a new era at Ibrox. Whoever is in the dugout, the win over St Mirren last time out must be the start of a sustained run if the season is to be transformed.

The first days in a new job are always hectic. For the next man to assume the hotseat, they are a chance to make an immediate impression on those that he will work with and those that will cast the strongest judgements on his efforts. Here are the five key items on the Ibrox to-do list.

Get the fans on board

The two previous managerial appointments – those of Michael Beale and Giovanni van Bronckhorst – were widely acclaimed amongst the support. Sections had doubts over Beale’s experience as a boss in his own right, but Van Bronckhorst was a popular pick from the Ibrox hierarchy. As it transpired, the faith in both was misplaced.

This time around, there appears to be something of a split in the camp. The reaction to the news that Frank Lampard was no longer in the running spoke volumes about what the punters made of his potential arrival and a host of other names – such as Scott Parker, Derek McInnes and Pascal Jansen – have had their credentials discussed and debated while not getting close to the top job.

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It is Clement that has now been given the backing of the board. His arrival had been muted for some time and was confirmed on Sunday morning.

There has not been a standout candidate, a sure-fire vote winner and crowd pleaser for Rangers to put their money on knowing that the support will buy into the hype and back the call. That task now lies in new hands.

The first press conference at Ibrox in the coming days will allow the next boss the chance to get his messages and his vision across. Those that backed him will hope that they are not left underwhelmed, while those that didn’t will be open and ready to be convinced.

Fans will expect more than cliches about the history of the club and the atmosphere at Ibrox. Every word is analysed and every expression is assessed these days and the 19th manager in Rangers’ history will have to cut a commanding, ambitious and professional figure when he takes his seat in the Blue Room.

Make big calls on the squad stalwarts

It is easy to say that matches are not won in press conferences but the way in which a boss conducts himself in front of the cameras is, especially at a club like Rangers, an important part of the job.

The Rangers manager needs his voice to be heard loudest and clearest within the dressing room, though. If he has the gift of the gab but can’t put his words into actions, he will quickly be found out.

Having previous successes on the CV was a prerequisite for any candidate, and certainly for the chosen one but he will be starting from scratch once again and respect must be earned from the squad that he has inherited. He must get the players on his side and performing for him as a matter of urgency.

Crucial decisions must also be made, however. Much has been said about standard of player that was recruited and what those summer signings have delivered this term, but questions are mounting for the more established members of a squad that continues to underperform and underachieve.

Four key members of the group – Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack, John Lundstram and Kemar Roofe – are out of contract at the end of the season. Jon McLaughlin and Leon Balogun also fall into that category, while Abdallah Sima will return to Brighton and Hove Albion at the end of his loan deal.

Final decisions on the out of contract players do not need to be made as a matter of urgency but they will need to be in the mind as the campaign unfolds. Going forward, could other familiar faces find their places under threat?

It was a summer that marked the end of an era. Rangers will now enter another period of transition and every jersey, and every contract, must be up for grabs regardless of past endeavours.

Start planning for January business

That process will naturally see attentions turn to the transfer market. No manager is going to want to work solely with the squad that he has taken over and Beale’s replacement will have his own thoughts on what needs to be done to turn Rangers from hopeful challengers into potential champions as soon as possible.

The first weeks of the of the new reign offer a chance for players to stake their claim and earn the trust of their new boss, as well as trying to make amends to a support that need to be won over. Those that fail to meet expectations could find themselves heading for an early exit at Ibrox.

The board will – as they did with Beale – look to financially support their manager when it is possible to do so but there is a budget that must be adhered to.

Their pick for the position must prove more adept at getting the most out of every pound that is spent in January and ahead of next term.

Player identification is one thing, but player improvement is just as important. This is where a coach with modern, fresh ideas and a man-manager of players and people could really earn his money, as well as saving Rangers millions.

If he is able to transform the careers of many of those that Beale brought to Glasgow during the summer then Rangers will see the benefits on the park and on the balance sheet. The likes of Sam Lammers and Cyriel Dessers are expensive acquisitions that have not provided value for money.

There are players within the group that have the capability to be part of a successful Rangers side. That may not have been evident during Beale’s tenure but that doesn’t mean that each should be written off and a change of voice and tactical approach could reap significant dividends individually and collectively. There is certainly plenty of room for improvement.

Implement a style of play

This factor has been an important one for many supporters in recent weeks. Every potential appointment that has been put forward has had their track record in terms of silverware scrutinised, but the way in which they set up their teams has also been a key consideration.

Van Bronckhorst became routinely castigated for the now infamous ‘horseshoe’ approach that lacked substance and style domestically. Beale, on the other hand, was never able to produce a team that took the handbrake off, as he had vowed to do on his return to Ibrox.

Rangers fans rightly demand to win, but they also expect to be entertained. The new boss must, therefore, show that he can do both and prove that there is an identifiable approach from his side.

The squad lacks natural width and a true box-to-box option in the middle of the pitch. Too often this term, Rangers have been lacklustre in their operation and have looked like a disjointed unit rather than an effective sum of their parts.

Any Rangers manager must be flexible with his blueprint. The challenges that Rangers face domestically are well known and being able to overcome sides who sit deep and defend in numbers is non-negotiable.

Given the resources and standard of player available, there is no reason why Premiership fixtures cannot be ticked off in routine manners and turning domination of possession into goals and points will only happen if Rangers are clear in their thinking and their execution. As Beale found to his cost, the approach to Old Firm games also carries huge significance.

On the continent, the proposition is different, and this is where an innovative thinker can come into his own and show how astute he is tactically as Rangers attempt to make their mark in the Europa League. After the embarrassment against Aris, this squad have points to prove and earn in Group C.

Win matches at home and abroad

Ultimately, this is what will mark any Ibrox boss out as a success or a failure and what will prove whether John Bennett and James Bisgrove have picked the right candidate or not. Like every Rangers manager, he will be judged on games won and trophies lifted.

The first chance to do that is on the horizon. The three Premiership clashes with Hibernian, Dundee and Hearts are joined by a trip to Prague before the end of the month and each fixture must be won if Rangers are to build momentum in the first weeks of the new era.

On November 5, he will take his side to Hampden and the Jambos will provide the opposition once again. A place in the Viaplay Cup final is up for grabs and the significance of that competition this term cannot be understated for Rangers, especially given Celtic’s early exit to Kilmarnock.

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Getting a trophy in the cabinet just weeks into his tenure would be the perfect platform for Rangers to build upon under fresh leadership. Indeed, one of his predecessors, Alex McLeish, knows all to well what it means and what can happen when the first silverware is delivered to supporters after a mid-season arrival at Ibrox.

Progression in the Europa League is still expected, despite the defeat to Aris Limassol, and there is no reason why Rangers cannot win the Scottish Cup. If Celtic can be beaten on the way, then Beale’s replacement will have achieved what he failed to during his first months at the helm.

It is, of course, all about the Premiership, though. A seven-point deficit across the Old Firm divide is not insurmountable, but it does leave Rangers with no margin for error between now and the next derby.

If the manager can find a way to cajole Rangers to a series of wins that shows their title credentials, the second half of the campaign could yet be interesting. That must be the ambition as he gets down to business and bids to repay the faith in him from the boardroom to the stands.