Old Pals act again as Patrick Stewart gifts his mate a Rangers job | OneFootball

Nepotism at Rangers is no longer even hidden. Patrick Stewart has followed Kevin Thelwell’s lead by appointing his old Manchester United mate Jim Liggett at Ibrox. This club, once proud of its standards, now reeks of self-interest and personal networks. Fans already angered by Thelwell bringing in his own son now see another inside job unfolding. The hierarchy defends it as experience, but Rangers supporters are not fooled. Nepotism at Rangers is becoming a pattern that shows where priorities really lie.

Stewart’s Man United link

Patrick Stewart spent years at Old Trafford, and now his old associate has suddenly landed a major role at Ibrox. Fans raged at Thelwell’s family links, and Stewart has now taken that same route. Liggett, a former United director of operations, has been given an interim Chief Operating Officer role. Reports claim it will last until the end of the season, but no one believes that. Stewart has built a comfort zone around himself, not a winning culture. The Ibrox board allows it, just like it allowed Thelwell’s son Robbie to step into a recruitment position he did not earn. Fans remember when Rangers hired on merit. Those days feel long gone. Nepotism at Rangers is now policy, not coincidence.

From loyalty to self-preservation

Instead of surrounding himself with people who challenge him, Stewart surrounds himself with familiar faces. Rangers once promoted loyalty, but now it looks like self-preservation. Thelwell’s summer business already raised concern. Thelwell’s recruitment has already brought chaos, wasting millions on underperformers. Now Stewart adds his own old contact to the list. It is jobs for mates, not football decisions. This shift in leadership values leaves players and supporters disconnected. Fans look on as friends get favoured while the football side continues to decline. Rangers should be building a structure for success, not recycling old Manchester United ties.

Fans demand accountability

Supporters have had enough. They see through the excuses and the constant spin. When Thelwell’s family connection caused uproar, the board stayed silent. Now Stewart does the same and expects no backlash. Rangers fans want accountability, not another round of private deals among pals. Even the club’s own statement on Stewart’s CEO role raised questions about transparency and influence. Rangers’ leadership looks more concerned with protecting its own than driving progress.

The situation worsens when you consider Thelwell’s own comments on his authority at Rangers. He talked about structure, vision, and unity. Yet every appointment since has screamed self-interest. Sky’s report on Thelwell’s relationship with Martin shows how deep these internal alliances run.

The result is predictable. Fans lose faith, players lose confidence, and Ibrox loses identity. Until someone at the top decides that talent matters more than friendship, this decline will continue. Nepotism at Rangers has become the new culture, and it is dragging the club further from the values it once stood for.