‘Net spend of £20m sends clear message at Rangers’

A “£20m net spend” has improved Rangers “across all parts of the team”, insists sporting director Kevin Thelwell, who is sure a summer of big changes will bear fruit, despite a sticky start to the season.

Head coach Russell Martin has won just three of his first 11 matches, with Sunday’s Old Firm stalemate making it four successive Premiership draws.

With backing from the club’s new American investors, 14 players have been signed, with strikers Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane among a long list of departures.

“I’m pleased with the business that we’ve done,” Thelwell told RangersTV. “There’s a nice balance within the group.

“We have young, hungry players that can help us now but can also develop, and we have brought in some senior players that should help the group chemistry.

“In my view, we’ve improved the group across all parts of the team and now it’s about getting down to work.”

Rangers received fees for Igamane and Dessers, along with Jefte, Ridvan Yilmaz and Robin Propper, but Thelwell explained that those pale in comparison to the money invested in the squad.

“I think it’s a circa £20m net spend, which is a big number in our concept,” he said.

“Fans should see that in a positive way. It sends a clear message about what we want to do and that the ownership are committed to building a stronger team.”

Thelwell is confident the club has “traded well in this period”, while adding that “you can’t expect ownership to spend year-on-year in that way.”