Kevin Thelwell performing Rangers balancing act as sporting director crystal clear over what comes next

Daily Record

a day ago

Thelwell is in no doubt as to his responsibilities now that Russell Martin is in place to pilot the plane that's still being built
The two iconic stadiums were built by the architect Archibald Leitch.
And both clubs have some of the most passionate fans in British football.
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But for Kevin Thelwell, when moving from Everton to Rangers this summer, there was one key difference.
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If he'd stayed at Goodison Park, success would probably have been surviving the dreaded drop from the Premier League.
Whereas at Ibrox, his remit is to win.
And the 51-year-old says that was a key attraction in him taking the job as Gers' new sporting director.
Thelwell is highly thought of in England after stints at Wolves and Everton, as well as working for New York Red Bulls in the MLS.
As the Toffees prepare to move into their new ground at Bramley Moore Dock, he could presumably have stayed on under boss David Moyes.
But having visited Ibrox several times already in his career, Thelwell was keen to make the move to Glasgow.
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With Andrew Cavenagh and the San Francisco 49ers taking over at Rangers, it's the start of a new era.
Thelwell's first task was to pick a new manager and he sat side-by-side with Russell Martin at his unveiling last week.
The pair of them have been charged with restoring Rangers to the top of Scottish football.
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And it's that challenge of being at the top of the table - instead of around the bottom - which excites Thelwell most.
He said: 'I've been lucky over the course of my career to visit Rangers many times.
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'Clearly, it's a huge club with an unbelievable fan base.
'The atmosphere when things are going well here is like no other place.
'My memories of Rangers are of this club being such a force, at home and abroad.
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'The way the team played, the way they're supported. Ibrox and those fans give Rangers something unique.
'It's something that's worth fighting for and I understand that.
'That's a huge pull for anyone who gets what Rangers is about - but also what Rangers can be, and should be in the future.
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'I've been fortunate to experience a fantastic football club recently in Everton.
'Goodison Park is very special but so is Ibrox.
'And I'm working with good people here in Patrick Stewart and the 49ers group.
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'The opportunity for us to achieve something here is very special.
'It's clear that this club has been in a low moment for a long period of time.
'But having the opportunity and ability to change that is appealing.
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'In the Premier League, winning is seen as retaining your Premier League status.
'That's the case for the majority of clubs the majority of the time.
'But here, that's not the expectation. The expectation is to win something and achieve.
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'We're all committed to that. We all understand what the job is - it's to win.
'And as Russell has said, we're going to be all in to make that happen.'
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Thelwell, along with Martin, have a huge job on their hands to restructure Rangers' squad ahead of the new campaign.
And with a Champions League qualifier looming on July 22, time is against them.
While he waited for his Everton contract to expire, the sporting director was already working away in the background.
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Because for Thelwell, as much as he knows Rangers have to win NOW, his job is also to ensure any quick triumph isn't just an Ibrox flash in the pan.
That's why, as well as targeting promising young talent, the club is also eyeing up moves for the likes of experienced centre-back Conor Coady from Leicester City.
He said: 'It's about balance. Let's be clear again about what the job is.
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'It's to win today, isn't it? But for the sporting director, it's also about winning tomorrow.
'It's about sustaining success. Patrick said last week it's about flying the plane while still building it - and that HAS to be the route we go down.
'I fully understand the team has to be ready when the games come. We need to be strong.
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'But it's not worth its weight in anything if - after one year - it falls apart and we're back in this same position.
'So it's about sustaining it. It's about investing in young players, developing them - but also ensuring we've got that balance in the team.
'We must have those experienced professionals who know what it is to win every week.
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'They can support the rest of the group which is really important.'
Thelwell has already said he won't sign a new player for Rangers without Martin's approval.
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But as well as improving the squad, his remit will include making sure everything else at Auchenhowie is running like clockwork - therefore giving Martin the best chance to succeed as gaffer.
He said: 'The role of the head coach is most important. That's preparation, performance and, fundamentally, results.
'My job is making sure the support around that is as strong as it can be to give Rangers the best chance of winning.
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'That includes, recruitment, analysis, sports science, medical services, everything.
'But obviously, in the first instance now that we've got a head coach in, it's about sitting with him and being very clear about what our recruitment looks like going forward.
'Because we need to find ways of strengthening the team if we can in this window.
'Then I'll look at the support services and see whether I can make some changes or additions to help us be stronger and better prepared moving forward.'