‘I’ll jump in now’ – Rangers deal agreed after surprise U-turn
Rangers’ new hire has made a surprising move after previously rejecting the opportunity to join the club.
That is according to ex-Aberdeen, Aston Villa, and Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, after Rangers appointed Jim Gillespie as their new chief executive.
Gillespie joins the Glasgow club from fellow Scottish Premiership side St Mirren, after Rangers had sacked chief executive Patrick Stewart.
Rangers were told to prioritise experience when appointing a new chief executive, and Gillespie had been vice-chairman at St Mirren since 2021.
Jim Gillespie had ‘declined’ Rangers opportunity
Aberdeen’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004, had lengthy spells as the chief of Everton and Aston Villa and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes Gillespie’s appointment is a “strange” move.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks Gillespie has joined Rangers now due to the fine form they are in under manager Danny Rohl.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Well, that’s a strange one. Again, I mean, apparently he’d been in the running when Patrick Stewart was appointed, and he had declined because he worked with a charity, a kids charity.
“That seems a strange reason to actually turn down the position and suddenly to be cleared now to go and take it. It would almost seem as though as soon as things go well for Rangers, okay, then I’ll jump in now. And things are going well.
“And so as a chief executive, you’re given a lot more time, a lot less scrutiny when Danny Rohl has actually turned things around for you. So it is a good time for him to come in. It’s also strange coming in as a vice-chairman from St Mirren, although he’s been an avid Rangers fan over the years, we understand that. Still to have come in from a club, another club so close.
“Paisley is very close to Glasgow. It seems strange that, for him to make that move from a vice-chairman to actually a chief executive at Rangers.”
Rangers make exit decision on star
Rangers have already bolstered their squad in the January transfer window as Rohl looks to lead the club to the Scottish Premiership title.
The signing of Andreas Skov Olsen is Rangers’ major addition so far, with the 26-year-old joining on loan from Wolfsburg until the end of the season.
Oliver Antman is set to stay at Rangers despite the increased competition for places, with Tochi Chukwuani and Tuur Rommens having also moved to Ibrox in this window.