Kevin Thelwell meets Sean Dyche as Rangers close in on new manager appointment
Rangers are looking to appoint a new manager before the end of the international break, with the season in desperate need of repair.
Russell Martin was sacked by Rangers on Sunday, following his side’s fifth draw in just seven Scottish Premiership games this season.
The former Southampton boss was appointed at the start of June, but oversaw a shocking start to the season.
Rangers are keen to re-hire Steven Gerrard, with the Ibrox favourite available having left Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq at the end of January.
Sean Dyche has also been touted as the possible next Rangers manager, after the former Burnley man left Everton at the start of the year.
Kevin Thelwell meets Sean Dyche
Kevin Thelwell is under huge pressure at Rangers. The sporting director played a direct hand in the appointment of Martin, and was involved in the length of time it took to dismiss the Englishman.
And in a move that attracted further criticism, Thelwell hired his son, Robbie, to serve as Rangers‘ head of recruitment last week.
The former Everton man must ensure that he gets his next decision right, with his job surely in serious jeopardy should he not.
| Sean Dyche | Everton | Burnley |
| Played | 83 | 425 |
| Won | 26 | 152 |
| Drew | 24 | 114 |
| Lost | 33 | 159 |
| Scored | 99 | 498 |
| Conceded | 122 | 539 |
Alex Crook gave an update on Rangers’ manager search to talkSPORT on Tuesday.
“I’m getting mixed messages when it comes to Gerrard’s willingness to go back to Ibrox,” the journalist said.
“I know they made a real play to get him in the summer, the 49ers group who now run Rangers and he wasn’t willing to take the job at that stage.
“Some of my sources are telling me his stance may have changed and he actually might now be ready to return. Others are saying there are still one or two tax issues over in the Middle East that he would have to deal with first.
“The other name that has come to my attention this morning is that of Sean Dyche.
“In fact I’ve been told that Kevin Thelwell, now the sporting director at Rangers – he’s got an awful lot of flack from the supporters over the past few weeks and months – has met with Sean Dyche.
“There is a connection there as they worked together at Everton, so that’s a possibility.”
Dyche could be the man needed for Rangers
Dyche is not a manager who is going to arrive at Rangers and start playing attractive, incredible football.
He did not do that at Everton, and he did certainly did not do it during his time at Burnley.
But wherever Dyche has gone, results have usually followed. The Englishman took Burnley to the Europa League in the 2018-19 season, and kept Everton safe from relegation despite several point deductions.
As bad as Martin was for Rangers, the team he had at his disposal was not great either. Several players could benefit from a manager who is going to tell them the reality of the situation they find themselves in.
If that is what decision-makers at Ibrox are looking for, Dyche could be just the man.
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