Rangers CEO Patrick Stewart Faces Early Misstep in Ibrox Tenure
Since taking over at Ibrox, Rangers CEO Patrick Stewart has already made a questionable decision. The former Manchester United board member was appointed by interim chairman John Gilligan in December, replacing James Bisgrove, who departed for a role in Saudi Arabia during the summer.
Stewart, originally from Aberdeen, has conducted a review of operations at the club but chose to retain Philippe Clement as manager. However, one of his key decisions at Ibrox has already backfired, raising doubts about his early tenure.
Rangers’ Loaned Youngsters Training Only Twice a Week
Stewart decided that academy players sent out on loan would take priority over playing for Rangers’ B team. This strategy aimed to reshape the B team’s function and provide a clearer pathway from the academy to the first team.
While the idea appeared promising, a lack of due diligence during the winter transfer window has exposed its flaws. Reports suggest that young Rangers players loaned to part-time clubs are only training twice a week away from Ibrox [Rangers Review].
Although regular game time in senior football is beneficial, limited training sessions could hinder their development. The responsibility for this miscalculation falls on Stewart and the Rangers hierarchy, who sanctioned these loan deals without ensuring proper training conditions.
Stewart’s Loan Strategy Falls Short
Rangers have struggled in recent years to develop academy players into first-team regulars. Ross McCausland is a rare success story, yet his role under Clement has diminished in recent months.
Sending young talents out on loan seemed like a positive move to aid their progression, but only if they were placed at clubs where they could train consistently and play regularly.
It’s now evident that Stewart did not do enough groundwork to secure suitable loan deals, making this a frustrating oversight in his early reign at Ibrox.
