Former Rangers midfielder Derek Ferguson believes he has identified the ideal successor to Kevin Thelwell as the club’s next sporting director.
Thelwell was dismissed earlier this week after less than half a year in the role, departing alongside chief executive Patrick Stewart. Stewart struggled to command authority at Ibrox, while several of Thelwell’s decisions have come under heavy scrutiny.
Ferguson backs David Weir as the perfect replacement
Ferguson insists the 49ers must learn quickly from the latest turmoil in the boardroom, having already removed a manager and now two senior figures. And in his view, the answer lies with a familiar face: his former Falkirk teammate David Weir.
There are even rumours that Thelwell’s son Robbie could follow him out of Ibrox — adding yet more vacancies for the 49ers to address. With Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers chief Paraag Marathe expected to steer the hiring process, Ferguson believes Weir should be at the top of their list.
Weir only recently accepted a new job in France, but Ferguson insists the pull of Rangers can change minds. “David knows Rangers inside out and he’s incredibly smart,” he said.
Weir’s Brighton success speaks for itself
Weir earned widespread praise for his outstanding work behind the scenes at Brighton between 2019 and October this year, helping establish the club as one of the Premier League’s smartest operators.
Rangers’ timing, however, was off. Had Thelwell been removed a few weeks earlier, Ferguson believes the club could have made a serious push to bring Weir back to Glasgow.
Even so, Ferguson insists the door isn’t closed forever. The 55-year-old won’t remain at Strasbourg indefinitely, and a return to Ibrox seems an obvious long-term fit.
“He’d be absolutely brilliant for Rangers, just look at the job he did at Brighton — it was exceptional. It should be a no-brainer,” Ferguson declared. “I just don’t know if the timing works right now. But the 49ers should do everything they can to get someone of his calibre through the door.”
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