In a dramatic move to address the club's declining fortunes, Rangers have terminated the contracts of chief executive Patrick Stewart and sporting director Kevin Thelwell.
Fan Anger and Poor Performance Trigger Dismissals
The decision comes after a period of intense pressure from supporters, furious at the team's alarming slump. The crisis was highlighted by a run where the club won just one of their first eight league games and suffered a humiliating seven consecutive defeats in European competition.
This poor form was widely attributed to a summer recruitment drive that failed to strengthen the squad adequately. Although results have shown some improvement since the appointment of new manager Danny Röhl last month, the American ownership decided that more significant structural change was required.
Ownership Acts After Six-Month Assessment
Chairman Andrew Cavenagh and vice-chairman Parag Marathe, who led a takeover of the club in the summer, have now taken decisive action. Having spent six months evaluating the situation at Ibrox, they concluded that the club's leadership needed a new direction.
In a statement, Cavenagh explained the reasoning, stating the club now requires different qualities in its senior executives. "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," he said. He was careful not to criticise the departing pair personally, describing them as "skilled executives" who had "delivered a lot for the club."
Short Tenures and a Managerial Misstep
The dismissals mark the end of relatively brief spells at the club for both men. Patrick Stewart had held the CEO role for exactly one year. Kevin Thelwell's tenure was even shorter, having been appointed in April just before the ownership change was finalised.
Thelwell's time at Ibrox will likely be most remembered for his involvement in the appointment of Russell Martin as manager. That decision proved to be a historic misstep, as Martin was sacked in October after only 17 games in charge, making him Rangers' shortest-serving permanent manager.
The club's owners have now initiated a search for replacements, emphasising that they will prioritise "quality and fit over speed" to find executives who align with their vision for the future.
