(Credit: Imago)

Kevin Thelwell sanctions new Rangers hire as Everton snubbed amid 'lucrative' offers

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior sports journalist with experience at GRV Media and VAVEL; University of Derby graduate. FOCUS Exclusive content, statistical analysis, and deep-dive reporting across the Breaking Media network. THE INSIGHT Max utilises a network of club and industry contacts to deliver verified, exclusive reporting and data-driven insight. He provides the intelligence behind the stories to ensure fans get the full picture.

Published on:

19 Jun 2025, 10:08 am

Kevin Thelwell is continuing to build a new look staffing structure at Rangers.

The 51-year-old began his role as Sporting Director with the Gers on 2 June, just hours after the takeover led by Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises.

This has kickstarted a number of changes throughout the Govan club, with arguably the biggest being Russell Martin's introduction as head coach.

With the Englishman coming in to manage, Thelwell has continued his progress to build a team around him in the G51 hierarchy.

Kevin Thelwell has continued his work after the ownership change at Rangers (Credit: Imago)

Thelwell snubbed by Everton in Rangers appointment

It is destined to be a new era at Ibrox under new ownership and with a new man in the hot seat.

While the former Southampton boss is going to be rated against his successes on the pitch, the new Sporting Director is going to be harder to judge.

With that being said, the former Everton chief is putting in work to build a team around him capable of pushing the Light Blues forward.

This looks set to continue with the Daily Record reporting (19 June) that David McCallum is set to be named as the academy director permanently at Rangers.

The coach has been in the role on an interim basis since last year and has impressed Thelwell and now looks set to land the job as a result.

This comes after Gareth Prosser turned down the role, despite initially being the main target in G51, but has a similar role at Everton and is said to also have "lucrative options in the Middle East".

Departing Everton director of football, Kevin Thelwell

Kevin Thelwell looks set to appoint David McCallum at Rangers (Credit: Imago)

McCallum has work to do at Rangers

There is a desperate need for the Rangers Soccer Academy to become more effective after years of struggles.

As it stands, Ross McCausland, Leon King and Bailey Rice are the only true products in the senior squad, which isn't good enough for a club the size of the Gers.

Name	Rangers career appearances
Leon King	42
Ross McCausland	66
Bailey Rice	15

Rangers current first-team academy players career appearances

This now has to be down to McCallum to get more out of the talent at his disposal, to help funnel more starlets into Martin's side.

Any productivity from Milngavie will only be a boost either for the first team or in the transfer market as Paraag Marathe and Co. look to transform the fortunes of the G51 club.

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David McCallum

Kevin Thelwell

Gareth Prosser