Rangers fans believe they know the real reason Stevie said no | OneFootball

There is a growing belief among Rangers fans that Kevin Thelwell is one of the main reasons Steven Gerrard said no to Rangers. Many supporters and some outlets now claim Thelwell’s influence inside Ibrox played a huge part in Gerrard’s decision to walk away. The idea has spread quickly online, and while it remains speculation, it has touched a real nerve within the Rangers support.

Fans turn on Thelwell

The anger towards Thelwell has reached boiling point. Fans see him as an outsider who holds too much power in key football decisions. Many have voiced their frustration that he seems to control recruitment, contracts and even the managerial process. Gerrard, famously strong-willed, would never agree to work under those conditions. He wanted full control, not a structure where another man decided who he could sign or drop. Rangers supporters feel that under Thelwell the football side of the club has become a corporate project, not a team built on ambition and instinct. That resentment has grown week by week.

A clash of visions

Gerrard’s first spell at Rangers worked because he was the man in charge. He set the tone, led the staff and commanded total respect. With Thelwell now in the role of sporting director, that power balance has shifted. According to some reports, Gerrard asked for clarity about who would control transfers and budgets. The answer, it seems, did not satisfy him. He wanted the freedom he once had, and Thelwell’s presence blocked that. In the eyes of supporters, Thelwell represents interference from the boardroom and a move away from the identity that brought success under Gerrard’s leadership.

The board’s risky stance

If Thelwell truly is the reason Gerrard turned Rangers down, then the board has made a huge mistake. Sky Sports confirmed that Gerrard rejected Rangers after talks, which only fuels these rumours. Fans already question the decision-making at the top of the club. Keeping a man as unpopular as Thelwell in power, while losing a potential manager like Gerrard, makes no sense. It sends the message that the hierarchy values structure over results. The feeling among supporters is that Rangers have lost their way again, allowing bureaucracy to take control.

Whether this story is true or not, it has become a symbol of the growing divide between the Rangers board and its supporters. The Guardian reports that the club continues to explore other names, yet few inspire confidence. ESPN notes how Gerrard’s influence still hangs over Ibrox like a ghost of ambition past. Thelwell might not have been the only reason Gerrard said no to Rangers, but his shadow over the football side cannot be ignored.