Kevin Thelwell will take up the position of Sporting Director at Rangers when he leaves Everton this summer, as Mail Sport exclusively revealed on Tuesday.
Everton announced last month that Thelwell will depart his role when his current contract expires at the end of the season.
Speaking after accepting his new role, Thelwell said: ‘This is a huge honour for me to be joining a club with the size, stature and expectations of Rangers. From the first conversations, it was clear to me how ambitious the club is, and I’m excited to play a part in shaping its next chapter.
‘I know how much Rangers means to so many people, and that brings both responsibility and motivation. Rangers needs to win. That’s the bottom line. There’s a strong foundation already in place, and I look forward to working closely with the teams across the men’s, women’s and academy programmes to build something that delivers consistently.
‘Of course, there’s important work ahead, especially in men’s first-team structure but we’ll approach it with energy and purpose. While change takes time, I’m confident that we can make real progress. I can’t wait to get started.’
Chief Executive Officer Patrick Stewart added: ‘I am delighted to be welcoming Kevin to the club following a rigorous recruitment process.
‘Our Football Review quickly identified the need to appoint a Sporting Director, and in Kevin, we have found an outstanding candidate with terrific experience in the Premier League and the MLS.
‘It will be the role of Kevin, with the full support of myself and the board to lead our football department and deliver the results our supporters expect and deserve.’
Meanwhile, Rangers have told Sky Sports News they are in ‘productive conversations’ with a US consortium who are set to take over the Ibrox club and ‘inject additional capital’.
It was reported in March that healthcare tycoon Andrew Cavenagh and the San Francisco 49ers investment arm, the 49ers Enterprises, had agreed a deal in principle to acquire a controlling stake in the Scottish Premiership club.
Talks have been ongoing since the end of October, and a deal – which will see the US group gain at least 51 per cent of the shares in Rangers – is expected to be completed ahead of the new season.
Kevin Thelwell will be the new sporting director at Rangers when he leaves Everton
A statement read: ‘Rangers and its existing controlling shareholders are in productive conversations with the two lead members of the Consortium, Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises Global Football Group, about the potential for the Consortium to acquire control of the club and to inject additional capital.
‘These discussions reflect a shared recognition of the importance of Rangers FC’s long-term direction, ambitions and management.’
