Wolves man ‘made U-turn on joining Rangers after holding talks’
Wolves’ appointment of Rob Edwards was a factor in Jonathan Hunter-Barrett not joining Rangers as academy director as planned.
That is according to ex-Aberdeen and Everton and Aston Villa chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes Edwards was able to ensure Wolves‘ academy manager of his long-term future at the club.
Hunter-Barrett’s decision came a week after Rangers had sacked chief executive Patrick Stewart and sporting director Kevin Thelwell.
Rangers are in the process of appointing a new chief executive and sporting director, but the Glasgow club will not rush into any decisions.
Rangers in ‘turmoil’ after latest blow
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 Rangers are currently in “turmoil.”
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness feels Hunter-Barrett made the right decision staying at Wolves amid the current issues at Rangers.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Look, he’s a very highly rated young coach and certainly the people I’ve spoken to with Academy knowledge rate him well. I think if we look at this, those discussions were probably happening before the Kevin Thelwell sacking.
“That’s my guess. And I think that when Rob Edwards came into Wolves and was able to assure him that there was a future beyond relegation this year, which is looking very likely for Wolves, and that they were going to be part of a revamp of how the academy and the first team worked together, then I think that satisfied him and he could see a long-term vision and a more of the, I hate the word, project at Wolves.
“So I think that’s what settled him down but I think it would have been discussions that may have happened when there was more turmoil at Wolves, and I think Edwards has been able to keep him and I think it’s a good move for Rob Edwards to keep somebody that I think is quite important for them longer term.
“I think it would have been difficult for him in Rangers given the turmoil up there and I think for him personally I think it’s the right choice to have stayed at Wolves. Rangers’ search continues and as I say there’s a lot of pieces to put together now and we’ll be watching that but that’s certainly not seeming to be as settled as Celtic are appearing to be at the moment.”
Former Rangers captain could rejoin club
Barry Ferguson has emerged as a contender for the vacant sporting director role at Rangers, less than a year after he took interim charge of the club.
Rangers want an experienced operator to take up the position, but Ferguson has not been ruled out of the conversation.
Manager Danny Rohl is therefore expected to have a greater role in the January transfer window, with the German wanting to make changes to the squad.