Rangers 'put coach in charge of training as two assistants follow Philippe Clement OUT of Ibrox'

IT'S day one of the post-Philippe Clement era at Rangers.

With the Gers now searching for a new permanent manager, there's a need for someone to step up to lead first team affairs.

4 Philippe Clement has been sacked as Rangers manager Credit: PA

4 Issame Charai is taking training this morning Credit: Getty

4 Stephen van der Heyden and Alex Rae have reportedly left the club Credit: Willie Vass

For now, that man appears to be Issame Charai.

The 42-year old was appointed assistant manager to Clement just a month ago.

The Rangers Review are reporting that Charai is the man who will lead first team training at Auchenhowie today.

He's also expected to be in the dugout in charge of Rangers for Wednesday's game against Kilmarnock.

The report also claims that coaches Alex Rae and Stephan van der Heyden have also LEFT Rangers.

They both worked under Clement during the Belgian's entire spell in charge.

That spell came to an end when Clement was sacked last night in the wake of Saturday's dire 2-0 defeat to St Mirren at the weekend.

Those exits leave Charai as the most senior first team coach left at Rangers as it stands.

It has yet to be confirmed whether or not he will be installed as the club's official interim manager beyond the next couple of days.

Rangers are understood to be finalising an interim coaching team.

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Charai joined Rangers following the exit of Clement's previous assistant, Andries Ulderink.

An experienced coach, Charai was in charge of Morocco's under-23 team between 2023 and 2024 and led them to the U23 Africa Cup of Nations title.

Charai spent his entire playing career in Belgium and after a spell coaching in Saudi Arabia, spent several years back in Belgium as No2 to Marc Brys at various clubs.

The Moroccan national job was his first job as a No1 and he most recently worked as assistant at Strasbourg in France.

Rangers chiefs are of course locked in takeover talks with supremos from the San Francisco 49ers.

That will likely lead to a delay in any permanent manager being appointed.

In terms of that permanent gig, SunSport revealed last night that former Gers defender Russell Martin is one of the names in the frame to land the role.

He's available after departing Southampton earlier this season.

Former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard was installed as the early bookmakers' favourite following the decision to sack Clement.

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