Kevin Thelwell threatens to quit Rangers already in bombshell news out of Ibrox
Kevin Thelwell could potentially be on his way out of Rangers just months after being appointed the new sporting director.
The former Everton chief has had a big role to play in the new-look Gers side since Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises’ takeover.
The fans have also questioned the sporting director’s credentials after Youssef Chermiti’s transfer to Ibrox for a deal worth £10million, despite the centre-forward failing to make a mark in Merseyside.
Thelwell was also prominent in Russell Martin’s appointment, but the Scottish manager may now be facing the heat to turn things around at the Light Blues.
Rangers wanted to fire Russell Martin but Kevin Thelwell intervened
Thelwell was willing to put his job on the line for Martin at the Gers, according to Luca Chianti.
The consultant who works for the likes of Reuters and AP, and is followed by BBC journalist Adam Pope on X, revealed that the ex-Everton chief threatened to quit his role at Ibrox if the Scottish manager was fired.
Chianti has revealed that in a crunch executive-level meeting, the Glaswegian outfit’s hierarchy intended to sack the 39-year-old head coach, but Thelwell stepped in.
The journalist wrote on X on 4 September: “Details emerging from a crunch meeting at executive level in Rangers where director of football Kevin Thelwell threatened to quit on the spot if the Glasgow club fired manager Russell Martin as intended. Martin remains in the role. More to follow.”
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Kevin Thelwell digging his own grave at Ibrox
Martin revealed that Patrick Stewart and Thelwell were backing him despite the 9-1 defeat on aggregate against Club Brugge in the Champions League play-off.
While it’s true that the Scottish manager needs time to implement his ideas at the Gers, it doesn’t look like he has learnt much in the opening 11 games of the season.
The former Southampton boss’ dismissal from the Glaswegian outfit seems inevitable, and it looks like the sporting director is happy to go down with him.
- Cavenagh and the 49ers have sanctioned a net spend of £20m at the Gers.
- The Light Blues have spent the most amount on one player in 25 years to sign Chermiti.
- Martin has won just three of his 11 games in charge at the Glaswegian outfit.
Rangers may need a replacement for Martin sooner rather than later, and they could potentially also have to look for Thelwell’s successor.
The jury is still out on the 13 new players the Gers signed in the previous transfer window, but the likes of Max Aarons and Joe Rothwell haven’t been great examples for the recruitment department.
It looks like the drama in G51 will continue to unfold over the coming days, and the situation around Martin will certainly be one to keep an eye on.
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