Dimitri De Conde will not be Rangers’ next Director of Football after ruling himself out of the role just days before the board was due to announce the appointment.
CEO James Bisgrove revealed two weeks ago that the position was due to be filled by the end of the international break but with the Belgian’s announcement, it appears the intention to bring him in has failed and Rangers must look elsewhere.
He said, on signing a new deal with Genk till 2029:
“It was also a signal to other clubs too. I am loyal to Genk. I love the club and I am a Limburger.”
His profit margin at Genk has been impressive, securing Philippe Clement’s former side £300M in transfer gains on sales, but in many ways Rangers have dodged a bullet because Genk are currently nowhere under De Conde.
He went on:
“I know the club and the management, we are a group of very ambitious comrades. That is rare in football. My ambition remains to make Genk the biggest club in Belgium. I signed a contract until 2029, but that does not necessarily mean I will be here until 2029 because if the club gets into sporting problems, I am responsible. But it was a gesture to show that I am still involved in Genk’s long-term project.”
His side are currently 5th, back into midtable obscurity since Clement’s exit. It was the one thing that naturally we didn’t report when he was linked to Rangers in the first place, that despite last season’s strong finish, overall De Conde’s reign at Genk has been underwhelming and Rangers want the very best.
We also don’t know for sure Clement wanted him.
But either way, he’s not coming.