The winds of change are blowing once again at Ibrox — and this time, they look set to bring in a man with serious pedigree. Reports suggest that Kevin Thelwell is on the brink of being appointed as Rangers’ new Sporting Director, a move that could mark a turning point in the club’s long-term planning.
If confirmed, this is a massive statement from the board — and a clear indication that the influence of Sportology Group and 49ers Enterprises is already reshaping the structure at Rangers from the ground up.
Thelwell’s Journey: From Wolves to Goodison, and Now to Govan?
Thelwell is currently wrapping up a three-year stint as Director of Football at Everton FC, where he faced intense financial pressure and a club in turmoil. Despite that, he managed to generate over £220 million in transfer receipts, restructure the squad, and reduce player wage costs significantly — not easy in the Premier League pressure cooker.
Before that, Thelwell worked his way up through English football — starting at Preston North End as Director of Youth, then Derby County as Academy Manager (where he even stepped in as caretaker boss), and then spending over a decade at Wolverhampton Wanderers. At Wolves, he played a vital role in their promotion to the Premier League in 2018 as their Director of Football. He also took the reins at New York Red Bulls in MLS before returning to the UK with Everton.
So unlike some of the square-peg-round-hole appointments of recent years, Thelwell comes to the table with a proven track record across multiple levels of the game — both in youth development and senior recruitment.
Smart Sales, Smart Buys
What will make Rangers fans sit up and take notice is how Thelwell handled transfers at Everton.
Key player sales under his watch included:
- Richarlison → £60m to Spurs
- Anthony Gordon → £45m to Newcastle
- Amadou Onana → £59m to Aston Villa
- Moise Kean → Juventus for £30 million
- Alex Iwobi → Fulham for £22 million
- Demarai Gray → Al-Ettifaq for £9 million
- Ben Godfrey → Atalanta for £10 million
- Lewis Dobbin → Aston Villa for £10 million
- Ellis Simms → Coventry City for £6 million
- Tom Cannon → Leicester City for £7.5 million
Even players from the academy system like Tom Cannon, Lewis Dobbin, and Ellis Simms were sold for decent profits, adding up to a strategy built on financial realism and asset management — something Rangers will undoubtedly benefit from given recent Financial Fair Play concerns.
But it wasn’t just about selling — Thelwell also helped Everton punch above their weight in the market, bringing in the likes of James Tarkowski, Dwight McNeil, James Garner, Iliman Ndiaye, and Beto, all within tight budgets.
Backed by the 49ers and Sportology
The appointment also appears to be one backed — or even driven — by the club’s US-based investors. Sportology Group, whose clients include the San Francisco 49ers, had previously recommended the Sporting Director model to CEO Patrick Stewart and the Ibrox board. Their president Paraag Marathe (who also serves as vice-chairman at Leeds United and is heavily involved with the 49ers Enterprises) has a long-standing relationship with Thelwell and is reportedly a key figure in this move.
Back in the 2017 off-season we had a major decision to revamp the whole football operations for the first time in over a decade. We found in Sportsology a perfect partner, process and platform that allowed us to reboot the football areas and hold our entire franchise accountable to a new level of performance.
Paraag Marathe – President, 49ers Enterprises
In fact, it’s understood that Thelwell has already met with Rangers hierarchy and been shown around the training centre — which suggests this one could be all but signed off.
A New Era Beckons
The frustrations of recent seasons — muddled recruitment, short-term thinking, and a lack of leadership continuity — have left many fans understandably sceptical about another backroom reshuffle. But this feels different.
Thelwell brings a clear footballing philosophy, deep recruitment experience, and a history of navigating clubs through challenging transitions. Most importantly, he’s done it at scale — and under pressure.
With the club looking to modernise operations and build sustainably on and off the pitch, his arrival could mark the beginning of a smarter, more strategic Rangers.
Let’s just hope it’s announced officially soon — because this one looks like a real coup.
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