Rangers owners have made ‘very surprising’ move after confirmed Ibrox news
Rangers’ new owners are looking to stamp their authority at Ibrox after two departures have been confirmed.
Rangers decided to part ways with Patrick Stewart and Kevin Thelwell at the beginning of last week.
Stewart made the move to Ibrox as chief executive last December, but there have been several changes behind the scenes since his arrival in Glasgow.
Meanwhile, Thelwell was appointed as Rangers’ sporting director in April, with the deal completed once his contract at Everton expired in June.
Rangers fans protested against Thelwell and Stewart in recent weeks, blaming them for the failed appointment of Russell Martin and their dealings in the transfer market.
Rangers have sacked senior men ‘too early’
Former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider Rangers have made a “very surprising” decision after sacking Stewart and Thelwell.
Stewart previously spent 18 years at Man United, including a short spell as interim CEO following the departure of Richard Arnold in November 2023.
Meanwhile, Thelwell has worked at multiple English clubs as well the New York Red Bulls.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson said: “This is a new regime, so what’s going to happen is that the new regime is going to have to find its way. It’s going to have to understand the Scottish game.
“It’s going to have to understand the way to drive forward. It’s got rid of senior management in Stewart and Thelwell.
“I mean, it seems very surprising to me that you would sack people of that caliber so quickly, but I’m not close to the sort of dislike that there was there for those individuals. It seems very early.”
Football Insider revealed on Tuesday (2 December) Rangers plan to appoint a new CEO before bringing in a director of football.
Rangers told how to improve financial situation
Rangers posted a club-record revenue after publishing their accounts for last season, with their turnover improving from £88.3m to £94.1m.
However, the Scottish giants made a £600,000 loss on player sales, while their Old Firm rivals Celtic recorded a £31.5m profit.
“A lot of the problems Rangers have above and beyond the whole Uefa revenue is on player trading,” said Borson.
“You’re talking about a club who has made player-trading profits over the last 10 years of less than £50m. It’s just not good enough really. If you can supplement high-quality Uefa performance with a trading model as well, then you’re going to be in a good position.
“But it’s just obvious when you look at the numbers, and they talked about it actually in the accounts, the CFO talks about the challenges that they’ve had historically in respect to it. They’ve got to deal with all these things, but it’s going to be a long process I think now.
“I think when you have that sweeping out of management, when you’ve got a new football manager, new CEO, new director of football, all of that means you’re going to have to wait because they are going to have to take time to bed in to learn the jobs and everything else.”
Rangers appointed Danny Rohl as their new manager as he looks to turn the club’s fortunes around on the pitch.
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