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“I spoke to Patrick Stewart on phone and he said…”- Former sacked Rangers manager Alex Rae Reveals Jaw-Dropping Details of his Final call with Rangers CEO and Unfiltered Praise for Philippe Clement
Former Rangers coach Alex Rae has shared details of his final phone call with CEO Patrick Stewart and his deep admiration for ex-manager Philippe Clement.
Rae was dismissed last month, along with Clement and assistants Stephane van der Heyden and Colin Stewart, following a 2-0 loss to St Mirren.
For the first time since his departure, the former Ibrox midfielder discussed his exit, acknowledging that such decisions are simply part of the football industry.
“I spoke to Patrick Stewart,” Rae said in an interview with Go Radio. “It was a civil conversation. I wasn’t difficult at all. I think he was probably relieved there wasn’t any ranting or shouting over the phone.
“I’ve been in this game long enough to know when the decision is made, it’s time to move on.
At the end of the call, he said, ‘You’re always welcome to come to the club as our guest,’ and I told him I have two season tickets in the Broomloan Road.”
Rae also praised Clement’s approach and work ethic, highlighting how steadfast the Belgian was in his principles, particularly regarding sports science and the advice from the club’s department.
“I thought he was excellent,” Rae continued. “His work ethic was unparalleled.
He was always the first in and the last out every day. His attention to detail was exceptional. I have nothing but respect for Philippe; he’s a great guy.”
Rae reflected on Clement’s adherence to a methodology, especially his focus on sports science, believing it was a key factor in his approach. “He was very committed to his principles because he felt that was the right way.
I’m not sure, but I’d imagine he had success with this at previous clubs and trusted the advice he received.
Coming from a time when I thought the best XI should be on the pitch and wrapped in cotton wool between games, I understand how much the game has changed.”
He added that the sports science staff’s recommendations, including tracking player conditions and ‘red zones’, were a major influence on Clement’s decisions.
“The guy advising him on this has been headhunted by Chelsea. Ultimately, though, it was Clement’s choice, and at times, he did follow that advice.”
Rae also spoke about the challenges Clement faced during his time at Rangers, particularly in the transitional phase after several key players departed, including Connor Goldson, John Lundstram, Borna Barisic, and Kemar Roofe.
He explained that the club was trying to build a sustainable model by bringing in younger players and developing them, similar to Celtic’s approach.
“Losing that much experience was a tough decision, but it was necessary, especially with the reduced wage budget,” Rae said.
“The key issue is that you need experience to create a winning mentality, and while some of the new signings, like Jefte, Mohamed Diomande, and Hamza Igamane, have potential, they’re still young and need time to adjust.
It’s unrealistic to expect them to be hitting top form straight away. They need time, support, and the right environment.”
Looking ahead, Rae suggested that if a takeover happens in the summer, it could be the right time for the club to bring in experienced players to complement the young talents coming through.
“It’s hard for young players to make an impact at a club like Rangers.
Of course, there are experienced players like Jack Butland and James Tavernier who have been around, but the team still needs that winning mentality.
They need to figure out how to improve their away form—if they can’t do that, things will become much harder.”
