Philippe Clement has revealed he held a "really constructive" meeting with Willie Collum.

The new head of refereeing in Scotland met with Scottish Premiership managers ahead of the new season to concerns over issues including VAR and the handball rule.

And Clement has insisted he spoke with Collum in clear-the-air talks after issues between the Rangers and the referee last season. 

The official - recently promoted to head of refereeing at the Scottish FA - had faced criticism from Rangers over the failure to award a penalty in a derby defeat to Celtic. Collum was on VAR duty and did not call for a review of a possible handball by Alistair Johnston.

Subsequent replays showed an offside in the build-up meaning a spot-kick could not have been awarded but Collum irked Ibrox officials by waving away the incident as he viewed it as not necessary for review.

Clement, however, downplayed the matter - despite a request from Rangers for Collum not to referee their matches - as he opened up on the discussion between him and Collum over the "fuss" last season.

“We spoke after all the fuss that was there last season when he next came to Ibrox," said Clement. "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.”

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Collum then returned to Rangers to referee a Scottish Cup match between Rangers and Ayr after the Parkhead incident.

And Clement insisted he did not hold a grudge over the decision as he hailed Collum for a "very good game" on his next duty at Ibrox.

“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.”