US-based project management company Sportsology is the independent organisation conducting a root and branch review of Rangers Football Club.
Patrick Stewart confirmed that it is Sportsology who’ve been tasked with getting under the bonnet at Rangers as the club looks to reverse a drastic downturn in form.
The incoming Rangers CEO was speaking to the Rangers Fan Advisory Board, where he also explained retaining Philippe Clement is not a financial decision.
Rangers’ brief grip on Scottish football’s crown slipped out the club’s hands in 2022 with mis-spending and constant upheaval consolidating the Ibrox club’s second place status.
But with Patrick Stewart now looking to lead Rangers out of the wilderness, who exactly are Sportsology and what are they here to do?
Who are Sportsology and why have Rangers hired them?
Patrick Stewart confirmed Rangers’ plans to launch an independent review into the organisation’s operations back in January.
With the review ongoing since January 13th, Rangers are still awaiting the outcomes with the club promising to implement changes swiftly and decisively.
For the time being, that does not appear to involve sacking under-pressure manager Philippe Clement.
Sportsology sports-focused project management company who exist to ‘help solve the biggest challenges’ modern sports clubs could face.
Whilst the main office is in New York, Sportsology also have an office in London.
Here’s their mission statement on the company website:
“Sportsology Group exists to help solve your biggest challenges. We have an international network of advisors who are transformational change leaders with proven track records across global sport and business.
”We have deep expertise across all major sports, having experienced many of the challenges these organizations face – acquisition, expansion, turnaround, and growth.
“Sportsology Group is a leading provider of premium knowledge, strategic advisory, and operational support in the sports industry. Our expertise is focused on franchise owners, global leagues and federations, and Institutional Investors, driving success and fueling transformative growth. We are dedicated to empowering sports organizations to create and own their future.”
How can Sportsology help Rangers?
This is done on a three-pronged basis, Sportsology offering support when it comes to ‘operational advisory’, ‘human capital’ and ‘mergers and acquisitions’.
Here’s what they claim this means:
- Operational advisory: We provide strategic guidance to clients on their most critical issues, equipping them with the tools and insights to achieve competitive advantage. From optimizing organizational structures to refining strategies and enhancing operational execution, we empower our clients to drive success and surpass their goals
- Human capital: We partner with clients to comprehensively assess and address their human capital needs. By offering expertise in organizational design, role definition, and accountability frameworks, we enable our clients to cultivate high-performing teams. We specialize in identifying and recruiting top-tier talent for key leadership positions that are vital to both sporting and business functions.
- Mergers and Acquisitions: Our M&A services encompass meticulous due diligence on behalf of buyers and sellers. Leveraging our extensive network within the sports industry, we connect clients with valuable opportunities and facilitate transactions across various sports properties. With a focus on delivering comprehensive and reliable insights, we guide our clients through the complexities of the M&A process, maximizing value and driving successful outcomes.
In short this means Sportsology will be identifying the operational challenges facing Rangers before suggesting solutions which can improve the club’s function.
The group will also analyse the structure of the football club and identify issues with organisational or executive structure before making recommendations.
Sportsology also appear to have links to a lot of key players in US sport when it comes to potential investment opportunities.
Who have Sportsology worked with before?
Sportsology certainly appear to talk a good game and we shouldn’t just take the word of Rangers or the company’s official website on that.
A number of MLS and NFL clubs have used Sportsology to help assess the issues within their organisations and here are some of the testimonials.
The likes of LAFC president Tom Penn claim Sportsology have ‘incredible pedigree’ whilst representatives from Cincinnati FC and NFL side the LA Rams have hailed the organisation’s impact.
LAFC President Tom Penn: “Taking on the challenge of revamping soccer in Los Angeles was a huge undertaking by our ownership group. When we looked into the future, Sportsology had incredible pedigree in dealing with every challenge we were going to face. It became more a question of how can we not use this company to build the franchise and team we needed to make the project a success? They were with us every step of the way.”
Cincinnati FC co-CEO Jeff Berding: “The team at Sportsology has been there for every step of FC Cincinnati’s journey helping us lay the foundation for our Club and guiding us to be a best-in-class professional sports team from both a process and personnel perspective. Because of our relationship with Sportsology, we are prepared to take the next step in our journey as an MLS club and to become a sustainable winning franchise.”
LA Rams general manager Les Snead: “Sportsology have been a key partner in helping our organization move to the next level, especially during our transition to LA. Their vast experience working with elite teams – from Owners, Front Office, and Coaches – across the world really helped us gain a competitive advantage as we built our vision for the future of the franchise.”
