(Credit: Imago)

Exclusive: Rangers put director of football deal on hold, surprise new plan revealed

Transfer Correspondent AUTHORITY Former Sky Sports and ESPN FC correspondent who specialises in global recruitment, contract negotiations, and high-velocity transfer breaking news. FOCUS Exclusive reporting, domestic and international transfer markets, and elite-level insights. THE INSIGHT Pete utilises a Global Network of Industry Sources to deliver verified, first-to-market reporting. His “Deep-Lens” analysis connects the dots between boardroom strategy and pitch-level recruitment, providing a level of transfer clarity that goes beyond surface-level rumours.

Published on:

02 Dec 2025, 6:07 am

Rangers plan to appoint a new chief executive first before agreeing a director of football deal, sources have told Football Insider.

This comes after the Ibrox outfit dismissed sporting director Kevin Thelwell and chief executive Patrick Stewart on 24 November, after the club's poor start to the season.

The departure of Thelwell was met with relief by the Rangers fans, with many attributing some of their perceived failings in the transfer market to his work over the summer.

However, they could now be waiting for a while before a new face arrives in place of the former Everton recruitment chief, as sources have indicated that the club are keen to take their time with such a key appointment.

Ex-Rangers sporting director Kevin Thelwell

Thelwell was axed by Rangers recently. (Credit: Getty Images)

Rangers to be without director of football for the January window

Football Insider recently revealed that Rangers are targeting an experienced head to step into Thelwell's shoes, but that now looks set to take them a significant period of time to arrange.

The Glasgow giants are now understood to be keen to secure the appointment of their new chief executive before they address the vacancy in the recruitment and footballing side of the club.

Sources have now suggested to Football Insider that Rangers could wait until February before bringing in a director of football to fill Thelwell's position, with the club determined not to rush the decision.

Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh smiles at Ibrox

Cavenagh could wait until February before appointing a director of football. (Credit: Imago)

That would mean that the Ibrox side would not have a director of football in place to lead the recruitment in the January transfer window, which is expected to spark plenty of concern from supporters.

Kevin Thelwell ally to become next Ibrox dismissal

Former Aberdeen and Everton chief executive Keith Wyness recently revealed to Football Insider that Robbie Thelwell is also likely to leave Rangers in the wake of his father's dismissal.

He had worked under his father as the head of recruitment since a restructure behind the scenes prompted his appointment in early October.

Wyness has now suggested that he expects Thelwell to be the next man to leave Rangers as Andrew Cavenagh and Co. continue their clearout behind the scenes.

He also suggested that Rangers simply have to get their next appointments right at boardroom level, which ties into their desire to take their time over their next decision.

Rangers