Keith Wyness: Rangers sackings were made to protect two Ibrox people in particular
Rangers owner Andrew Cavenagh is covering for his own mistakes after chief executive Patrick Stewart and sporting director Kevin Thelwell were sacked.
That is according to ex-Aberdeen and Everton and Aston Villa chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes Cavenagh should have made changes in the summer when the 49ers consortium took over Rangers.
Unrest from the Rangers support may have influenced the decision to sack Stewart and Thelwell, who both served less than a year in their roles.
The club have also faced a turbulent season on the pitch, with the sacking of Russell Martin leading to the appointment of former Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl.
Rangers chiefs abilities questioned
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 – was not surprised by the decision to sack Stewart and Thelwell at Rangers.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness though does believe the duo have been treated as “sacrificial lambs.“
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “It’s another one that, again, you have to look at this. It’s not a surprise given they were not their appointees, and I get that.
“But nevertheless, they had a look at the club and they could have made a change on day one and they didn’t. And I think they’ve made these two sacrificial lambs, to be honest.
“Now, I’m not saying Patrick Stewart and Kevin Thelwell are superb messiahs that should be kept at all costs. I think they made some mistakes.
“And were they the right people? There are question marks there as well in terms of their own abilities. However, I do think that the owners came in and as I they had a chance to make those appointments and change them at the time and move things forward. Now they chose not to.
“And now that things haven’t gone right, they made it very clear that they’re sacking these two guys and they’re the sacrificial lambs to try and protect the board. And Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers and Paraag Marathe. So it smacks a little bit of that to me.”
Rangers looking forward amid stadium plans and title hopes
Rangers are planning to expand Ibrox by 4,000 seats, which could earn the club an extra £4million in revenue.
The club still trail their Glasgow rivals Celtic in the latest financial accounts, with qualifying for the Champions League a key factor.
Rangers have seen an upturn in fortunes in the Scottish Premiership since Rohl’s arrival, with the club having won four league games on the spin.
The Gers though still trail leaders Hearts by nine points, although they do have a game in hand on the Edinburgh club.