Rangers set to appoint director of football within two weeks

Author: Andrew MacleanPublished 13th Nov 2023
Last updated 13th Nov 2023

Rangers are set to appoint a new director of football within the next two weeks.

During a fans' forum last week, CEO James Bisgrove told supporters the club were in the "final stages" of their recruitment process.

Clyde 1 Superscoreboard understands the Ibrox side now feel they are ready to make an announcement when domestic football returns after the international break.

The position has been vacant since former sporting director Ross Wilson left for Nottingham Forest in April.

Following his departure, Michael Beale was handed a big role in summer recruitment as he looked to build his squad for this season.

However, he faced criticism for some of his signings and was eventually sacked following a poor run of results.

New boss Philippe Clement will work closely with the new director of football ahead of the January transfer window as he looks to make his first additions to the squad.

Financial Results

Chairman John Bennett has vowed they will strive to improve on their player trading after the Ibrox club returned an operating profit for the second year running.

Rangers recorded turnover of £83.8 million for the year to June 30 2023, posting a profit of £252,000.

Bennett, who was appointed chairman earlier this year, feels there is "still much work to be done" to make Rangers a more "sustainable" club.

He pinpointed player trading as one area where they must become more prolific in order to fulfil their potential.

"While successive years of operating profitability can be seen as encouraging, especially in light of what had gone before, there is still much work to be done," the chairman said, speaking in his annual report as the accounts were revealed.

"The club vision must be simple and clear: sustainable success. This applies both on and off the pitch and it must be a mantra by which all at the club live.

"Football is a business which is particularly prone to being reactive. While this may be inherent to the industry, sustainable success can only come when we are systematic in our processes and in our actions. It is my firm conviction that this is a pre-cursor to returning the club to the status of serial winners.

"I have talked previously of the four components of financial sustainability: season ticket sales, commercial revenue, European football and player trading.

"While the first of these components will never be taken for granted, it is the fourth that requires attention.

"Player trading will always be inherently volatile, yet Rangers must replace sporadic 'wins' with systematic success. It is a given that it all begins with player recruitment.

"This is an area of priority for your bbard, and we anticipate that the coming months will see a strengthening in the leadership and processes of our football department, specifically with this in mind."

Rangers' AGM will take place at Edmiston House on December 5.