In a significant front-office shakeup, Rangers Football Club has terminated the contracts of Chief Executive Patrick Stewart and Sporting Director Kevin Thelwell. The decision, enacted by the club’s American ownership group, follows a period of intense scrutiny from supporters amid a deeply disappointing start to the competitive campaign.
The team’s struggles were pronounced, managing only a single victory in its opening eight domestic league fixtures and enduring a string of seven consecutive losses in European competition. This poor form was widely attributed to a summer transfer window that failed to meet expectations.
While on-field results have shown some improvement since the October appointment of manager Danny Röhl, replacing the dismissed Russell Martin, the ownership has moved to instigate broader structural change. Club Chairman Andrew Cavenagh and Vice-Chairman Parag Marathe are now spearheading the search for new leadership, seeking candidates who match their long-term strategic vision for the Glasgow institution.
In a statement, Cavenagh framed the move as a necessary evolution. “Our immediate focus was to address sporting performance, which led to the managerial change,” he said. “With Danny Röhl now implementing his plans on the pitch, we can turn our attention to building the wider executive framework required for the future.”
Cavenagh was careful to acknowledge the contributions of the departing executives. “Patrick and Kevin are talented professionals who have given a great deal to this club. However, after six months of assessment, our requirements for the CEO and sporting director roles have evolved. This is not a reflection on them personally, but on the club’s changing needs. We have begun a thorough recruitment process and will appoint the right individuals, not simply the fastest available.”
Stewart had served as CEO for approximately one year. Thelwell’s tenure was notably brief; appointed in April just prior to the ownership transition, his time at Ibrox will be largely remembered for the hiring of Russell Martin, whose 17-game stint proved to be the shortest for a permanent manager in the club’s history.