Kevin Thelwell: ‘Serious questions’ asked of Rangers chief after ‘nightmare’
Rangers have endured a disastrous start to the season both on and off the pitch with scrutiny over the club’s recent decision-making growing.
Danny Rohl was eventually appointed as Rangers manager after a drawn-out process which saw the club snubbed by top options including Steven Gerrard and Kevin Muscat.
Football Insider revealed on 20 October that Rangers’ recruitment model has been an issue for managers, who were keen for more influence over their transfer business.
That has upped the stakes on sporting director Kevin Thelwell, who arrived at Ibrox alongside Russell Martin and has come in for plenty of stick.
This comes after Football Insider exclusively revealed on 13 October that Thelwell’s position at Rangers is under scrutiny in the wake of Martin’s dismissal.
Kevin Thelwell concerns lingering at Rangers
Football Insider revealed on 19 October that Thelwell will be given time by Rangers as he attempts to prove his worth, with the January window expected to be key.
However, concerns have arisen behind the scenes about the business they have done under his stewardship so far, with multiple summer signings yet to click at Ibrox.
That is according to former Man United and Sunderland chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that
“I hear there are concerns about Thelwell at Rangers,” he told Football Insider.
“He came from Everton where there were all sorts of concerns and things said and done behind the scenes, and he’d been at Wolves before that.
“Ultimately it comes back to the question about why he was appointed and who appointed him.
“You have to look at his connections to the manager [Martin] who was brought in at the same time.
“Now he’s only been at Rangers for a short time, but there are already serious questions being asked of him and the deals they have done in the transfer market.
“That, alongside their nightmare trying to bring in a new manager, which I hear was very much linked to him, is going to be a real concern for Rangers.”
Sources say that Ibrox chiefs had given Thelwell a less central role in the search for a new manager as they could slowly phase out his influence.
Danny Rohl hopeful of leading Rangers into a new era
Rangers’ latest managerial appointment took longer than anybody expected, after Football Insider revealed that Rangers wanted to appoint their next manager quickly.
Positive talks with Gerrard at Ibrox fell through, before the same happened with both Rohl and Muscat in the weeks following the initial collapse.
The constant delays were believed to have initially put Rohl off of the position, as he dropped out of the running before returning after the deal with Muscat fell through.
However, Brown told Football Insider on 14 October that Rohl was the front-runner for Rangers despite the number of alternative options being assessed.
The boss will now be hopeful of turning around what has been a disastrous season so far, with just one win from eight league games to start the season.
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