On top of their first sight of new Rangers manager Derek McInnes as Ibrox supremo, Rangers fans got their first proper taste of new CEO Jim Gillespie.
Ibrox Noise has been strongly in favour of Gillespie given his business acumen, background and Rangers allegiances. To have someone at the very top of the day-to-day running of the club who understands Rangers is a vast, vast improvement.
And naturally, at McInnes’ unveiling he was flanked by the ex-St Mirren vice chairman as he settled into life at Govan.
But what of Gillespie?
What impression did he make?
Well it’s safe to say Rangers fans liked what they saw and what they heard. Gillespie got widespread praise for understanding Rangers, which is a novelty given what fans have been put through.
His quotes supported the manager, the club, and there was only one little question of sorts Ibrox Noise had about him. We’ll get to that in due course.
But in general Gillespie carried himself very well, and fans loved his line about Hearts, and how no player is off the table. Despite McInnes’ polite response and Ewan Cameron’s begging.
That curious statement?
He explained how McInnes is manager owing to Rangers traditions. He is not called head coach but manager, and that’s how it should be at Rangers.
But he did explain how the boss will still work with the structure around him, including Stig Inge Bjørnebye, Rangers’ new Director of Performance, and Dan Purdy, Technical Director.
This means all departments will liaise with one another and it won’t all be on McInnes.
However, crucially, and critically, like all proper football managers, McInnes will be in charge of all football matters. He will get not only final say on all transfers, but will cherry pick ones he wants too.
It’s not quite an overarching Walter-esque patriarch, but it’s not far off.
So it’s higher than head coach, but isn’t quite full full manager who has full control.
It’s a modernised version owing to a changing world and McInnes is quite happy with the role he’s been given.
As for Gillespie, he will deal with the business of running the club, and making the big decisions. He comes across as a down-to-earth Rangers man with a mildly gruff exterior. But a steely intent to Make Rangers Great Again (not sure that one quite rolls off the tongue in truth).
And Rangers fans are buying into all of it.