Kevin Thelwell’s Rangers network remains a problem for Cavenagh

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Danny Röhl stands with Andrew Cavenagh at Ibrox as they shake hands in front of the pitch during his Rangers unveiling
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - OCTOBER 21: Rangers Unveil New Manager Danny Röhl, seen with Rangers Chairman Andrew Cavenagh at Ibrox Stadium on October 21, 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

As we explained in our last piece, Rangers are understood to be sticking with Robbie Thelwell.

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However, while that’s not ideal news, it arguably gets even more troubling.

Network

His father Kevin, recently dismissed, of course, built up an entire network of scouting at Rangers. Danny Rohl has called it out and reported to Cavenagh that the players for January just weren’t up to it.

However, that doesn’t overnight change much.

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The hierarchy have left the failed scouting network in place – the same one that reckoned Thelo Aasgaard was a player, or that Joe Rothwell was the right stuff.

January

And while their player list for January has been rather rebuked, there’s not much Rangers can actually do about it.

The 49ers have left that scouting in place, and all appointments Thelwell and Stewart made remain too.

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In short, we might have chopped off the head of the snake, but the body is still there. Joe Rothwell is still there. And the players on the list are still there.

And the scouts who found them are still there.

So while the originator is gone, the damage it did remains.

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Firing

Where does that leave the club?

Cavenagh didn’t want to fire everyone, because there would be no scouting network at all. Getting rid of everyone would not be wise.

The idea now is to slowly start to replace over time, while giving everyone a clean slate.

The players on January’s list weren’t good enough, and the network now has to find better for Rohl come January.

He will have an increased say and input to this.

And if things get better, those scouts may save their jobs.

But the fingers of Thelwell linger at this club and it will take some time to get rid of all of it.