Rangers recruitment since winning the Scottish Premiership title has left a lot to be desired.
In 2021, Fashion Sakala, John Lundstram and Juninho Bacuna were not the players that were needed to take the club to the next level and to compete in the Champions League.
They also weren’t the type to sustain any sort of domestic dominance and it was little surprise to see Steven Gerrard leave after growing frustrated.
Three managers later and Rangers are almost back to square one with Nils Koppen leading the recruitment team.
After a poor first full season, he will be looking over his shoulder with Kevin Thelwell appointed as sporting director and a former colleague of the new boss on the move.
Barry Ferguson expects Rangers changes as Kevin Thelwell gets to work
Barry Ferguson spoke after the 1-1 draw with Celtic, pressing that there isn’t much time to do a lot of work:
“I honestly don’t know. We know there are changes. The changes are starting to happen. And that’s a real positive in my eyes.
“Kevin has come in as sporting director. I don’t know when he starts, maybe the middle of June or the start of July.
“But we need to get started because it’s a couple of weeks before the end of the season. Before you know it, you’re in the qualification games for the Champions League. And then the season is upon you.
“There’s a lot of work to be done. And the club need to make that decision about who’s going to be leading the team pretty soon.”
Could Thelwell make return for former Everton colleague?
Alan Nixon, writing on his Patreon account, has claimed that Everton’s head of scouting Dan Purdy is set to leave Goodison Park.
As a close former colleague of Thelwell, seeing Rangers named as a possible destination is an easy connection to make.
If Rangers want to go to the next level, they need to have individuals behind the scenes with proven experience and a track record that demonstrates that they can locate and sign the right talent.
The problem, if it is a problem, is that the SPFL is a very unique league with playing for Rangers an even more specialised skill.
Purdy might have experience of analysing and identifying players at Liverpool, Leeds Utd and Everton, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they would be the right fit for a cold Tuesday night in Dingwall.
Koppen has made mistakes, but he should have learned what type of players are, and what aren’t the right ones for Rangers.
If he doesn’t, he now has Thelwell above him who won’t be afraid to bring someone else in.
