Much maligned former Rangers chief lands big new role just 95 days on from Ibrox nightmare
The former Rangers sporting director has landed a new role following his Ibrox departure
Former Rangers sporting director Kevin Thelwell is back in football after landing an ‘elite’ role with the English FA, the association have confirmed.
The 52-year-old was sacked from his role at Rangers in November after just six months in the post, as he and CEO Patrick Stewart paid the price for the club’s disastrous start to the season under former head coach Russell Martin, which saw them win just one of their opening seven league games.
However, he is now back in football just 95 days on from his Govan departure, and has been appointed in the role of ‘elite coach developer’ with the English FA, where he will be tasked with supporting the progression of elite homegrown coaches in both the men’s and the women’s game.
Many within the Rangers support pointed the finger at the club’s poor start to the campaign at Thelwell, pouring scorn on the former Everton man’s summer recruitment that saw them spend close to £20million on the likes of Youssef Chermiti, Djeidi Gassama, and Thelo Aasgaard. Having been confronted by angry Rangers fans during a Europa League defeat to SK Brann earlier in the season, a section of the fan base began to unfurl banners calling for Thelwell to be removed from his position a month before he exited the club.
Upon the confirmation of his new role, Thelwell said: “I'm delighted to be joining the FA at such an exciting time, and to get the chance to help take coaching excellence in this country to the next level. I know there is a real desire at St. George’s Park to step up the support for homegrown coaches at all levels and to give them the tools they need to complement their day-to-day roles.”
FA chief football officer Dan Ashworth added : “I'm very happy that Kevin is going to bring to St. George’s Park his considerable experience of working within elite clubs, from training ground to boardroom. We want to do more to help the pipeline of homegrown coaches, and his insight will play a pivotal role in helping them to fulfil their potential while ensuring clubs at home and abroad see them as options when recruiting.
“There has been some outstanding work across the game to further the development of homegrown players over the last ten years, and there is no reason why this should not be possible too with our coaches - working in partnership across the English game.”
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