Rangers sack CEO Stewart & sporting director Thelwell

The Scottish Premiership club has suggested that Rangers’ chief executive Patrick Stewart and sporting director Kevin Thelwell “do not align with their vision for the next chapter.”

Following a poor start to the season that saw Russell Martin dismissed in October after just 17 games as head coach, both had been criticized by supporters.

Stewart, the former head of Manchester United, did not officially take over the position until he left at the end of last season until he arrived at Ibrox in December, while Thelwell’s appointment was announced in April.

Since then, Rangers have been the subject of a takeover by a consortium led by Andrew Cavenagh, who has appointed Fraser Thornton as interim CEO while finding replacements.

Six months have passed since we joined Rangers in order to assess the club’s needs and get a little more information about Patrick and Kev, according to club chairman Cavenagh.

“And, to put it simply, it’s different from who we think Patrick and Kev are when we consider what we need in a CEO and a sports director today.

Rangers were eighth in the Scottish Premiership, 11 points behind leaders Heart of Midlothian, and they had lost out on qualifying for the Champions League after losing to former Southampton boss Martin.

Under new manager Danny Rohl, they are now up to fourth in the table and are now up to ninth domestically, but they have now lost all four Europa League games, the most recent two under the German, as a result of criticism for their summer transfer business.

Cavenagh once said, “Responsible change is measured and steady.” Our top priority has always been to enhance the sport’s performance, which led us to choose to leave Russell and bring in Danny.

“Danny has now started the process of enhancing the on-pitch performance, which has allowed us to concentrate on other areas of the club.”

Stewart became United’s chief executive in December after 18 years at Old Trafford, having previously worked for Uefa’s Champions League commercial agency for five years.

Five months ago, he was also appointed to the Scottish Professional Football League board.

After three years as Everton’s director of football, Thelwell previously held the position of New York Red Bulls’ head of sport.

Cavenagh praised both Patrick and Kev as skilled executives who have done a lot for the club while working there. I’m not here, and I won’t rub dirt on either of them.

On both a personal and professional level, I think highly of them. The club simply needs something more now than it did six months ago.

“We have already begun the hiring process, and we anticipate having appointments soon,” he said.

Change like this is painful, especially when it involves people we care about, says the author.

“But we’re also very excited about this opportunity to add new leadership to this excellent club,” he continued.

The move on Monday will have shocked Rangers fans, despite the club’s top supporters’ constant hollering for change for the past ten years.

Cavenagh only indicated his support for Stewart and Thelwell until late last month.

He said at the time, “They do retain my full support.” Cavenagh acknowledged that errors had been made at the club, but there was no sign of drama. With Paraag Marathe serving as the Rangers vice-chairman, he said, “It’s Patrick, it’s Kevin, it’s myself, it’s Paraag.”

Stewart and Thelwell had a lot of unpopular fan base, with both facing angry supporters at home on recent away trips to Europe and facing widespread and loud protests at games.

Since the owners took over, Thelwell, the club’s sporting director, has spent a relative sum of money on players, claiming that the club has spent upwards of £30 million. Many of those players haven’t yet given their best efforts, especially the £8 million striker Youssef Chermiti.

Thelwell’s door is to blame for the lavish and unsuccessful recruitment, which was also at fault.

Mystification persists after spending £8 million on Everton’s unproven Chermiti. Thelo Aasgaard’s reported $4 million and the reported $3. 5 million spent on Oliver Antman do not appear to be smart investments either.

Under new head coach Rohl, Rangers’ domestic success is improving, but the football is still mediocre.

Cavenagh has stated that he is optimistic about the success of these players, but he did not go into detail about what has changed since he gave Stewart and Thelwell backing last month. He has not yet explained why he believes they do not support the club’s goals.

It is obvious that this is a double dismissal rather than a mutually agreed-upon resignation. How could Cavenagh not be aware of the supporters’ opinions, it is understood? Stewart and Thelwell were chosen because he did not rely on what he saw and heard from the fans.

Beyond passing flimsy allusions to alignment, Cavenagh made a point of not throwing dirt in their direction, and there is no real reason for this decision.

Robbie Thelwell’s son serves as head of recruitment because there won’t be any further exits from Ibrox as of right now. Nathan Fisher will continue as the chief scout while Dan Purdy will continue as the technical director.

Cavenagh and Marathe will be in charge of appointing a new chief executive and a new sporting director.

It churns relentlessly at Rangers. Another director-sports director and director of football are being sought.