Kevin Thelwell is ready to make ruthless cuts to the "Rangers" squad this summer following his arrival as sporting director alongside new manager Russell Martin. The Ibrox leadership duo faces immediate pressure to reshape the team with significant player turnover expected.
"We have to make some hard, fast decisions and then hopefully start to quickly build a team that helps us to win," Thelwell stated, outlining his no-nonsense approach to the upcoming transfer window.
Meanwhile, "Birmingham City" are closely monitoring developments at Ibrox, hoping to secure the permanent signatures of Ben Davies and Kieran Dowell. Both players were crucial components in Birmingham's record-breaking League One campaign last season, helping the Blues amass an unprecedented 111 points.
Interestingly, both Davies and Dowell have just 12 months remaining on their Rangers contracts. They appeared destined for the exit door before Martin's appointment, but reports suggest the new boss wants to evaluate his inheritance before sanctioning any departures.
When questioned about potential squad turnover numbers - with speculation suggesting as many as 12 players could leave and a similar number arrive - Thelwell remained measured.
"I probably wouldn't want to put a number on it at the moment," he explained. "Clearly, there's been work being done behind the scenes already. We've been evaluating and reviewing the current group that we've got."
The sporting director acknowledged quality exists within the current setup but emphasized improvement is necessary. "There are some very good players here at Rangers. But with every football club, there's room for improvement, isn't there?"
With Celtic firmly established as Scotland's dominant force, can this ruthless approach from Thelwell and Martin finally shift the balance of power back toward Ibrox?
