If there is one strange curiosity that Ibrox Noise has noticed in recent times that is not to do with the Old Firm chaos, it is the silence of Jim Gillespie. As some, maybe not all, Rangers fans will be aware, the club appointed a new CEO some months ago. Curiously, in the statement of announcement, they only confirmed that he was set to become, and was, we quote, incoming. This curiosity suggested Jim Gillespie was not going to be made immediate CEO. Indeed, the absolute silence since that announcement has spoken volumes about the lack of that position being filled at Ibrox.
Jim Gillespie’s strange silence
The curiosity around Gillespie is a strange one. We know, obviously, his history and that there were a few controversies around him. However, we also know that he is a Rangers man. That is something the club desperately needs in high places.
But the fact that he has not actually been unveiled, and Rangers have remained rudderless without him, is a significant curiosity. The club still appears to have no CEO in place.
Leadership vacuum at Ibrox
Rangers do not have a vocal leader on or off the pitch right now. We may be alone on this one, but we do not see Danny Rohl as any kind of a leader. Andrew Cavanagh also has not really led from the front, despite being the chairman.
He is, however, the highest placed executive. In fact, he is the only placed executive.
Rangers currently have no CEO, or as it used to be called, managing director, dealing with everyday issues week in, week out.
Confusion on the Rangers board
There is, of course, the temporarily ‘promoted’ Fraser Thornton. He changed from being non executive director back to non-exec vice chairman that replaced the outgoing Patrick Stewart and stepping down Paraag Marathe.
In short terms, we do not really know who is actually steering the Rangers ship right now aside Cavenagh because it is obviously not Jim Gillespie. He remains AWOL with no necessary schedule or timeframe for actual arrival.
He may have been appointed on paper, but we do not know when he will actually arrive.
Boardroom upheaval continues
It is a very strange situation. With the departure of Paraag Marathe Rangers placed Thornton in his position. That move came alongside the symbolic temporary filling of Stewart’s now vacated slot.
It is all a bit kamikaze on the Rangers board. It is hard to know at any minute who is actually still there.
We know that Marathe stood down recently, but Gene Schneur also did. Quite frankly, who is behind the scenes right now, other than Cavanagh, is a tough question to answer. We know the board only has one exec, and that’s Cavenagh. We know who all the directors are, but none of them are executive and only Thornton and George Taylor are actually Scottish. Halsted, Taber and Clayton are all American and not based here. And the silence of Jim Gillespie is odd.
And we also can’t be sure exactly who put that statement out recently regarding the chaos at Ibrox on Sunday.