49ers Enterprises reportedly gave Rangers the green light to axe Philippe Clement amid takeover talks.

The Belgian boss was shown the door with Barry Ferguson stepping into the hotseat until the end of the season with the Scottish Premiership heavyweights in a state of flux with a mega-money takeover inching closer. American business tycoon Andrew Cavenagh, Paraag Marathe and the San Francisco 49ers are leading the talks with a deal expected to be completed before the end of the season - with fans hoping they will plunge money into the club to turn around the club's fortunes.

Rangers fans are facing the prospect of a trophyless season with Ferguson and his interim coaching team left to pick up the pieces from Clement's tenure - with just the Europa League as a realistic shot at silverware. He was shown the door on Sunday off the back of defeat to St Mirren.

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Record Sport understands that Clement is entitled to a significantly higher pay off from Rangers than the £1.2m that has previously been suggested with the former gaffer entitled to a significant seven-figure payday. His severance terms were upped substantially when he signed his new contract in the summer.

And The Athletic report that the Light Blues board debated for hours over showing the boss the door amid "the weighty compensation package that would be triggered". It is claimed the "49ers were made aware and gave their "blessing" to the final decision.

Talks has quickly turned to who could replace Clement on a permanent basis after Ferguson was given the nod to see out the campaign. Steven Gerrard, Russell Martin, Sean Dyche and Kevin Muscat have all been floated - but the report notes "no long-term appointments will be made until the takeover is complete".