Thelwell decides who he wants as Rangers manager – Sky Sports
Kevin Thelwell’s arrival at Rangers has been one of many key changes at Ibrox over the past month.
The sporting director joined from Everton and had a previous spell at Wolves.
With the Gers currently without a man in the dugout, Thelwell is attempting to find Rangers a new manager.
Now, after arriving at Ibrox on Monday, the Englishman has reportedly decided on who he wants.
Thelwell and Patrick Stewart aim to appoint Martin Russell as the new Rangers manager
Rangers’ managerial hunt has lasted months. However, it was reported in recent weeks that the Gers had only Russell Martin and Davide Ancelotti left on their shortlist.
Now, according to Sky Sport News (3 June), the Glaswegian club has opted to go for the former Ibrox defender.
Martin has been out of a job since December after he was sacked by Southampton due to a poor start to their return to the Premier League.
However, the defender who played for Rangers on loan in 2018 is now set to return to the club as a manager.
The report states that after interviewing multiple candidates, including Ancelotti, both Thelwell and CEO Patrick Stewart have opted to appoint Martin.
Martin is a risky appointment
While there is no doubt that Martin is a fantastic manager, fans should remain cautious about the appointment.
In the Premier League, the 39-year-old showed his stubbornness as he refused to change his style of play despite the poor results.
As a result, he was rightly sacked, and the Saints were eventually relegated as they became one of the worst teams in English top-flight history.
On top of this, Martin has often chosen to leave his club if a better opportunity has arisen.
| Russell Martin’s managerial career | Time spent | Win percentage |
| MK Dons | 2019-21 | 37.5 per cent |
| Swansea City | 2021-23 | 36.36 per cent |
| Southampton | 2023-24 | 45.21 per cent |
In his previous roles as MK Dons manager, he left to go to Swansea before doing the same thing at the Welsh club, as he moved to Southampton.
If he enjoys a decent spell at Ibrox, there is nothing stopping Martin from doing this again, and forcing Rangers to begin another search for a new manager.
However, only time will tell if this appointment turns out to be a success.