Walk outside Rangers’ stadium and the merchandise stalls say it all.
Before Thursday’s Europa League clash with Braga, scarves and memorabilia mostly featured legends of the past.
The current squad? Hardly anyone inspires enough devotion to warrant a trinket.
Back in May, there was a spark of hope. Stallholders introduced Stars and Stripes merchandise following the American takeover, riding a wave of optimism that the San Francisco 49ers’ investment would “make Rangers great again.”
Six months on, though, fans are still waiting for meaningful change.
Three Managers, One Chaotic Half-Year
Since the consortium took over, Rangers have seen three different managers.
Russell Martin, the first permanent appointment under American oversight, failed spectacularly.
A humiliating 9-1 Champions League aggregate loss to Club Brugge still stings, and the team sits bottom of their 36-team Europa League group with no points.
Domestic results under Danny Rohl have been a mixed bag.
Fourth in the Premiership, the squad feels imbalanced, lacking depth and consistency.
Fans and pundits alike are asking when the promised transformation will truly begin.
Thelwell and Stewart Out: No Surprise
News that chief executive Patrick Stewart and sporting director Kevin Thelwell were shown the door on Monday hardly shocked anyone.
Stewart had joined in December, and Thelwell, installed as sporting director when the Americans arrived, was a controversial figure from the start.
Both men had backed Martin wholeheartedly, with Thelwell calling him “the outstanding candidate” and “one of the best coaches he’d ever worked with” shortly before the disastrous results forced his exit.
Coupled with a transfer record riddled with misses, their positions had become increasingly untenable.
Transfers That Failed to Deliver
Thelwell’s legacy at Rangers is tied to spending that didn’t pay off.
From Youssef Chermiti’s £8million signing from Everton—scoring just once in 13 games—to Oliver Antman (£4m) and Thelo Aasgaard (£3.5m), much of the roughly £30m summer spend yielded underwhelming returns.
Only Djeidi Gassama can be considered a clear success among those heavily relied upon.
Even loan signings and other acquisitions, from Max Aarons to Jayden Meghoma, failed to make a consistent impact.
Fans will breathe easier knowing Thelwell’s influence is finally over, but clearing the mess he left behind will take time.
Stewart’s Role: Less Damaging, But Vulnerable
Patrick Stewart’s time at Ibrox was less disastrous than Thelwell’s, but he was never untouchable.
Arriving from Manchester United as interim CEO, he backed Philippe Clement before quickly sacking him and commissioned an external review of football operations.
This review ultimately recommended Thelwell’s appointment as sporting director—a link that may have sealed his fate.
Though he could have survived a regime change, his association with Thelwell made him vulnerable, and the timing of their departures, shortly after Rohl’s appointment, underscores the ongoing turbulence at Ibrox.
Fans’ Anger and Off-Field Chaos
Both Thelwell and Stewart faced fan hostility long before their exit.
From confrontations at airports to banners at matches, supporters made their displeasure clear.
Even after Martin’s dismissal, the duo remained focal points for criticism.
Rohl, having navigated difficult spells at Sheffield Wednesday, is no stranger to turbulent off-field environments.
Yet Ibrox presents its own unique challenges, where instability at the top bleeds directly into performance on the pitch.
A New Chapter Begins Amid Uncertainty
With interim staff now steering the club, the focus is on stabilizing Rangers and beginning the clean-up.
Allies of Thelwell remain in technical roles, including head of recruitment Robbie Thelwell, his son, while Stewart’s influence will linger in the background.
Chairman Douglas Cavenagh and vice-chair Paraag Marathe face the daunting task of turning promises into reality.
Their ambition of a smarter, more efficient Rangers has stumbled badly, and supporters are watching closely.
At Ibrox, the stakes are high, and mistakes are unforgiving.
Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn