Rangers to announce high-profile Ibrox exit days after US takeover
Rangers are set to witness a behind-the-scenes overhaul following their takeover.
After years of failure, Rangers fans finally have cause for optimism after the 49ers Enterprises officially announced their takeover at Ibrox.
The change is expected to bring fresh investment opportunities, but will also see several staff leave their current post, and one is expected to be announced as early as Monday.
Nils Koppen to leave Rangers
Nils Koppen has been a part of Rangers for some time now, when he was appointed as the Light Blues’ Director of Recruitment, while also having a say in various other areas of the club.
However, just six months after receiving a promotion as a Technical Director, he is set to leave Ibrox, according to a report from the Daily Record (1 June).
| Scottish Premiership | W | D | L | P |
| Celtic | 29 | 5 | 4 | 92 |
| Rangers | 22 | 9 | 7 | 75 |
With the 49ers’ takeover confirmed last week, the American regime is starting to overhaul the backroom staff at Ibrox, with Koppen’s exit expected to be announced as early as Monday.
When Rangers promoted Koppen to Technical Director, it raised the eyebrows of those in Glasgow, taking into account the struggles of some of the players he helped to recruit.
However, he also played a huge role in the signings of Vaclav Cerny and Hamza Igamane, who proved to be two of the biggest success stories this season in an otherwise dismal campaign.
Rangers set for a huge summer
With Koppen’s exit to be announced on Monday, and Kevin Thelwell officially starting on the same day, the 49ers are already starting to mould the Gers into the way they want them to be.
The Light Blues have looked incapable of competing with Celtic for years now, and through gradual changes on and off the pitch, the 49ers are hoping to change that.
Recruitment at Ibrox is going to be crucial this summer, though before plans are initiated on that front, the managerial uncertainty needs to be addressed, with Davide Ancelotti still believed to be the front-runner for the job.
After such high-profile moves, the 49ers will be fully aware of the need for things to pay off this summer, and to see the Gers return to the summit of Scottish football.