Philippe Clement was perhaps understating it somewhat when he used the word ‘fuss’ to describe the situation between Rangers and Willie Collum last season. It was, after all, slightly more than a minor disagreement as summits were held, statements were released and briefings were made.

Clement has never been one to indulge in the ramping up of tensions or to play to the gallery. The Belgian calls it as he sees it and calls out those who he feels merit it. When Rangers requested that Collum did not take charge of their matches in the aftermath of the Old Firm fall out last season, Clement took the moral high ground at Ibrox. He insisted he had no concerns over the neutrality of any official and fired a shot across the bows of his board when revealing he had not been consulted over the demand that was made towards the Scottish FA.

Such a stance has proven to be a wise one to take. Collum is now the man in charge of all whistlers in Scotland after succeeding Crawford Allan at Hampden this summer. Rather than starting off on a war footing, he and Clement are on the same page.

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Clement was at a meeting between Collum and all Premiership managers this summer. Last week, the head of referee operations detailed his ‘good discussions’ with Clement and the ‘good ideas’ he brought forward about officiating and the use of VAR. It is, after all, good to talk.

“We spoke after all the fuss that was there last season when he next came to Ibrox,” Clement said of Collum, who oversaw the Scottish Cup win against Ayr United just weeks after the Parkhead flashpoint involving the non-award of a penalty and a controversial offside decision. “The recent meeting was really interesting. You see that he is very motivated to make things better.

“He has also a really good eye on what to do better. It was also very good that we were there with other Premiership managers.

“We had really good discussions about rules, about how we see things. So it was a two-way street in the meeting.

“So I think everybody left with a very good feeling that we altogether can raise the standards and there is open communication. It was really constructive.”

The appointment of Collum comes at a time when faith in the people and the processes amongst managers, players and supporters is in short supply. The implementation of VAR – something that was never going to be a panacea to the ills of our game – was repeatedly questioned throughout a campaign that saw inconsistency and controversy reign once again.

Rangers repeatedly queried why Collum had not awarded a penalty when Abdallah Sima was fouled during their derby defeat and called for ‘transparency’ over what was told to Sky Sports and the communications between the officials. Clement is not one to hold grudges.

“No that was done already,” Clement said when asked if it was important to clear the air after the Parkhead storm. “I told you guys afterwards, for me there was nothing.

“It was a decision, one moment, and we were not happy with the decision. But that’s part of football with the referee.

“The day that somebody has other ideas when he steps on the field as a referee is also the day I will stop as a manager. I don’t believe in that. And it was really clear also the next game that he whistled, he had a very good game. So no, those things are long gone now.”

This weekend represents the first round of Premiership fixtures of the Collum regime. If there is one wish that the man himself would make ahead of the new campaign, it would surely be that there are fewer headlines made and storms brewed regarding the actions of his team.

(Image: PA)

The subject of VAR was naturally a key talking point during the meeting between Collum and the bosses. Clement has always been an advocate of the system and he hopes the experiences of last season will lead to tweaks being made.

“We had discussions about that,” Clement said on a potential lighter touch from VAR this season. “From what I heard with the other managers and the people from the refereeing department, I think we’re much closer together on how the game should be and how VAR should work.

“When VAR first came in, people expected that there will be no mistakes any more. But that’s impossible. There will always be a grey zone. Because of VAR, the grey zone is now smaller. That helps the game. But you saw in England’s Euros semi-final. Everybody in Holland will say they lost because of the VAR.

“So the grey zone will stay in football and I think you guys are really happy with that because you can write a lot of articles. It’s part of football and is one of things why the game is so popular, because there can be a lot of discussions afterwards with your friends.

“I want as little as possible discussion about things that are clear and VAR helps in that way. It’s about the use and when to do what. It’s also about rules. The handball rule was an important thing in the meeting.”

It will only be a matter of time before the first flashpoint of the campaign. Indeed, there is every chance a talking point will emerge from the game of the weekend as Rangers look to get their title challenge off to a successful start at Tynecastle.

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The letter of the law will be stuck to once again. There must be, however, a place for common sense when the team that Collum oversees blow their whistles this term.

“All the referees across Europe - because it’s not just Scotland - had difficulty with the new handball rule,” Clement said. “It’s becoming more clear and the rule is becoming less severe because it is a really decisive decision to give a penalty in a game.

“So I think it’s a good evolution because it went a little bit too far to the wrong side of the scale.

“Everybody agreed about that in the meeting - the referees and the managers. So we’re on the right track. That will help the game.

“And we will have less cheating in the game. I don’t like cheating, although I did it myself as a player. I’m not a saint, I wanted to win. But with the cameras, less things are possible so that’s a positive evolution for me.”