Former Everton sporting director Kevin Thelwell took on a new role over the summer, joining Scottish Premiership outfit Rangers – but that has already come to an end after major breaking news on Monday.
It’s been a poor start to post-Goodison Park life for the former Everton transfer chief, with a Rangers club statement announcing that he has been sacked after four months in the post.
Kevin Thelwell was at Everton for three years, helping the club to survive a particularly tricky period in their history by navigating the club through Premier League relegation woes to aid a survival push.
But now he will be looking for another job after starting his role in July, with Rangers stating that they are now looking for staff who ‘align with their vision’ for a new chapter in the club’s history.
Manchester City v Everton FC - Premier League
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
Kevin Thelwell has been sacked by Rangers after a poor start to the season
News has flooded through that Rangers have parted ways with chief executive Patrick Stewart and sporting director Kevin Thelwell after some poor performances on the pitch.
Thelwell was instrumental in the decision to appoint Russell Martin as their manager over the summer, though it turned out to be the wrong move. The Glasgow outfit were ceremoniously dumped out of the Champions League, as well as falling over 10 points behind Hearts and Celtic in the Scottish Premiership table.
Martin became the shortest-serving manager in the club’s history after just 123 days at the helm, and although they’ve since appointed Danny Rohl, the lead in the table seems insurmountable already.
MORE EVERTON STORIES
Furthermore, Thelwell has also been criticised for the decision to sign Everton’s Youssef Chermiti for £8million, with the striker scoring just once in 13 games so far in Glasgow.
A statement from Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh said: “”Patrick and Kevin are both skilled executives and have delivered a lot for the club in their time with it. We’ve now had six months since we became part of Rangers to assess the club’s needs as well as to get to know Patrick and Kevin a bit more.
“Simply put, when we think about what we need in both CEO and sporting director today, it’s different than who we think Patrick and Kevin are. We want people who align with the vision for the next chapter.
Did Everton make a mistake in signing Tyler Dibling?
“I will not throw dirt on either of them. I think very highly of them both on personal and professional levels. It’s just the reality that the club needs different things today than it did six months ago.
It marks a sorry few months for Thelwell, who only departed Everton at the end of last season.
How Kevin Thelwell fared with his transfer business at Everton
Kevin Thelwell’s Everton reign began just weeks after Frank Lampard was appointed to the club’s ranks.
His first summer transfer window saw Everton sign Amadou Onana, Dwight McNeil, Neal Maupay, James Garner, Idrissa Gueye and James Tarkowski.
On the whole, they have been successes, with only Maupay being a genuine flop on Merseyside. Profit was made on Onana, while Garner, Gueye and Tarkowski in particular remain starting XI options.
Player Team sold to
Richarlison Tottenham Hotspur
Amadou Onana Aston Villa
Anthony Gordon Newcastle United
Moise Kean Juventus
Alex Iwobi Fulham
Kevin Thelwell’s major sales during his Everton reign
His dealings in the summer of 2023 weren’t overly strong, though. Arnaut Danjuma was brought in on loan but failed to impress, while Chermiti was brought in but he failed to stamp his mark.
Beto was the marquee signing, and although he’s not failed at Everton, more has been expected of the Guinea-Bissau International.
In his final summer, Thelwell did bring in Jake O’Brien and Iliman Ndiaye, both of whom have been successes at the club, alongside Tim Iroegbunam.
But a number of failed deals such as loan moves for Armando Broja, Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom left a lot to be desired.