Rangers' double sacking should ensure Ibrox harmony after crosshairs and a change in tack

It is the best decision for all parties. Absolutely no doubt on that one. Ever since an increasing section of the Rangers fanbase turned their ire towards the duo, there was no obvious way back. When Rangers host Braga on Thursday, the banners with the faces of Stewart and Thelwell surrounded by the red border of crosshairs will be conspicuous by their absence.

Thelwell in particular was a dead man walking at Ibrox. Appointed sporting director in April, he appointed doomed head coach Russell Martin and was given a sizeable chequebook by Rangers’ standards to the tune of at least £20 million, with too many of the signings just not delivering. While he always presented himself well in public, the amount of vitriol that came his way from the fans plus the scrutiny of transfer dealings and managerial appointments were bullets he could not dodge.

Stewart was a remnant of a bygone era at Rangers. He came in to replace James Bisgrove last November when John Gilligan was holding the fort as interim chairman. When American businessman Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises swept into the corridors of power at Ibrox during the summer, they kept faith with the former Manchester United director. But there was always a lingering suspicion that at some point, they would want their own man.

Cavenagh’s official briefing spoke of finding executives that chime with Rangers’ future ambitions. “We want people that align with the vision for the next chapter,” the chairman said. “I will not throw dirt on either of them [Stewart and Thelwell]. I think very highly of them both on personal and professional levels. It’s just the reality that the club needs different things today than it did six months ago.”

Stewart and Thelwell were two of the chief players when it came to appointing Martin back in the summer. When Philippe Clement was sacked in February, Stewart commenced the process of identifying the man to lead a Rangers revolution on the pitch. He was assisted by Thelwell once his position became known in April. They had a heavy dalliance with Davide Ancelotti before settling on Martin, who had been available since December 2024 following his sacking by Southampton.

Thelwell’s failed Rangers transfer business

Waiting four months to land a manager is a long time in football – especially if they don’t hit the ground running. Martin’s tenure flailed right from the get-go. The fans were not happy with his appointment. The football was grim. And he was given a set of players who simply looked – and many still look – ill-equipped to deal with Scottish football.

This is where Thelwell truly comes in. Some of the deals under his watch should be filed in the extraordinary folder. Youssef Chermiti’s £8.5m switch from Everton – Thelwell’s former club – continues to look preposterous. The 21-year-old Portuguese striker had scored one goal in two years at the Toffees. In what world does he command such a high fee? He has scored just one goal in 13 outings since his early September arrival. If a club like Rangers spend that amount of money, the return needs to be instant and substantial.

Cavenagh publicly backed Chermiti’s fee so he must carry some of the can too. But there are more examples. The £3.5m dished out to Peterborough United for Emmanuel Fernandez looks extreme given he only plays in an injury crisis. Oliver Antman has done little to suggest he is worth £3m, while loanees Nasser Djiga, Max Aarons, Jayden Meghoma and Mikey Moore have only shone in fleeting moments. That young quartet have struggled with the demands of playing at a club of Rangers’ stature and the unique environment of Scottish football.

One of Cavenagh’s lines in his 285-word statement was telling. “Simply put, when we think about what we need in both CEO and sporting director today, it’s different than who we think Patrick and Kev are,” the American said. Rangers want to go down a different route. Perhaps they want to mine a different seam when it comes to January transfers. Thelwell almost exclusively shopped in the English market.

Some of his lieutenants remain in the recruitment team, including his son Robbie and his former sidekick at Everton, technical director Dan Purdy. They may sit uneasily until a replacement is sourced.

The botched job of hiring Martin could not have been highlighted further by Cavenagh and his deputy Paraag Marathe leading the charge for his successor. In the end, Danny Rohl was hired – and the early signs are much more positive than Martin’s. Yet Rangers courted Steven Gerrard and Kevin Muscat beforehand but could not come to an agreement. Were they happy to work with the then incumbents above them?

Personal abuse was too much

Nevertheless, some of the abuse that came Stewart and Thelwell’s way went far across the line. There were particularly unedifying videos of them being accosted by angry Rangers fans in Graz and Bergen on the back of limp defeats in Europe. On a personal level, surely both men will be glad to be out of the firing line.

“Change like this is always painful,” added Cavenagh, “especially when it involves people we care about. But at the same time, we’re very excited about this opportunity to bring in fresh leadership to this great club. We appreciate everyone’s continued support.”

Rangers clearly want a fresh start in 2026. They do not plan to rush either vacancy – “we will prioritise quality and fit over speed,” added Cavenagh – and Fraser Thornton assumes CEO duties in the interim. The removal of Stewart and Thelwell will placate many supporters, and should make Ibrox a more harmonious place.

This feels like a necessary move from Cavenagh and Co. They emptied Martin after four months in post and more blood has been spilled. An air of ruthlessness is developing at Ibrox. Mistakes have been made, now they are going about rectifying them.