Propper ripped to shreds over Rangers comments as Thelwell told what to do next
Robin Propper has spoken out following his departure from Rangers.
Propper, 31, departed Ibrox this summer, returning to FC Twente just one year after arriving from the Dutch side.
Dutchman Propper arrived with high expectations, having been Twente’s captain, but made a number of high-profile errors and failed to stabilise an already leaky defence.
Propper has become one of Rangers’ worst ever signings, relatively speaking, and his recent comments have been slaughtered in the media.
Thelwell told to continue shipping out deadwood after Propper’s tone-deaf comments
The former Dutch youth international has been heavily criticised for his comments after securing his return to Twente.
Propper claims he didn’t fail at the Gers and that he and his family “spent a lovely year in Glasgow.
Gary Keown has ripped into the defender in his column for the Scottish Mail on Sunday (3 August, pg 85), claiming the Dutchman spent his time at Ibrox “with his head in the sand”.
| Robin Propper stats 2024/25 | Total |
| Appearances | 43 |
| Tackles per 90 | 1.04 |
| Aerials won per 90 | 1.56 |
| Goals conceded | 49 |
Keown said: “A lovely year? He helped play a part in getting the manager who signed him, Philippe Clement, the tin tack.
“He was in the starting line-up in the home win against St. Johnstone in January in which everything falling apart on and off the pitch came to a head – resulting in a walkout by a group of punters amid a funereal, atrocious atmosphere.”
Keown has stated that getting rid of Propper was a great move, but now more is needed from sporting director Kevin Thelwell.
He added: “Now, [Russell Martin] needs sporting director Kevin Thelwell to ship out more of the deadwood – because the Ibrox outfit’s first-team squad right now is so bloated that it could stretch the entire length of Edmiston Drive and back again.”
Rangers can’t challenge until rebuild is complete
Rangers finished 17 points behind Champions Celtic last season, making it four years since the Ibrox side last won the Scottish league title.
More worryingly, they have failed to truly challenge since winning the title, and the Gers’ opening day draw at Motherwell will not give fans much hope for this season given Celtic’s recent dominance.
In truth, Russell Martin currently harbours too much deadwood to challenge this season, and Thelwell has a major task on his hands to complete this rebuild and get the Glasgow side back on the right path.
Sign up for the Ibrox News WhatsApp channel and turn on notifications to have all the latest, breaking Rangers news sent straight to your phone.