For a brief period this afternoon, Ibrox fan prayers were answered. Then reality hit them again.

For a lot of Ibrox fans, today brought more excitement than they’ve had in many months. And what was it that had them buzzing? Was it a significant signing? A major investment in the women’s team? Perhaps they’d unearthed a financial loophole that would see Celtic docked 40 points?

No, of course not. The frenzy was sparked by a brief flurry of rumours suggesting that the club would sack manager Philippe Clement at precisely 6:00 PM. Soon, this rumour was everywhere, with even The Daily Record jumping on the bandwagon, running one of those so-called live blogs breathlessly tracking developments, as if the guillotine was poised to fall.

But around 40 minutes before the hour, the rumour unravelled.

It turned out to be nonsense, as many of us suspected all along.

Yet the details of the rumour had been oddly specific: an announcement at 6:00 PM, the manager leaving by “mutual consent,” Alex Rae stepping in as caretaker, and a shortlist featuring Gerrard and McInnes as potential replacements.

I said yesterday that I believed Clement’s time was running out and wouldn’t have been shocked if he’d been let go by the weekend. But it was clear from the start that this wasn’t going to be the moment. This was yet another one of those WhatsApp whispers—the kind of rumour that spreads like wildfire but rarely holds any weight.

And let’s be honest: those whispers are rarely reliable. Over the years, I could count on one hand—maybe one finger—how many of these rumours have actually come to pass.

Where do they originate? Who knows. Probably from bored little souls with too much time on their hands and not enough imagination to use it constructively. The truth is, stories like this don’t break on WhatsApp. They break in the mainstream media.

Too many people fail to grasp how these things work. If a story like this goes viral while being ignored by the established press, it’s almost certainly nonsense. For all the criticism we throw at the mainstream media, they have better sources, better access, and better instincts for spotting a real story.

If there had been a board meeting, they’d have known about it. If the manager’s future were under active discussion, they’d have been the first to report it. And if a 6:00 PM announcement were actually planned, the sports desks would have had the scoop—not some forum posters or WhatsApp users.

The truth is, Ibrox fans are desperate for any kind of good news, and the rumour of Clement’s sacking was the highlight of their week. I still think it’s inevitable—his position seems untenable—but the fact the story didn’t come from the mainstream media today tells us all we need to know.

So for now, Clement hangs on, and the pain for their supporters continues to ratchet up. Those who briefly allowed themselves to hope this afternoon have been crushed all over again. We’ve said it many times before: it’s the hope that kills them.

For an hour or so, that hope was kindled, only to be extinguished in brutal fashion. Watching this unfold is almost fascinating. And the best part? Their pain is only just beginning. They are nowhere near climbing out of the hole they’re in.