Rangers Rocked by Shock Accusation as Barry Ferguson Exposes Major Issue Behind the Scenes!

Rangers Shake-Up Sparks Controversy as Recruitment Chief Blamed for Club’s Struggles — Barry Ferguson’s Warning Ignored Amid Manager Hunt

As Rangers prepare for a significant transition under the expected takeover by 49ers Enterprises, internal issues have already come under intense scrutiny — with Nils Koppen, the club’s recruitment chief, being singled out as a major problem. The criticism surfaces amid growing fan curiosity about whether the new American ownership will model Rangers’ future operations after their successful overhaul of Leeds United, who recently earned promotion back to the Premier League.

In a hard-hitting column for *Record Sport*, journalist Keith Jackson claimed that Rangers are far from ready to mount a serious challenge to Celtic next season. Much of that, he argued, is due to the club’s flawed recruitment system — a department overseen by Koppen. Former interim boss Barry Ferguson, who was passed over for the permanent role, reportedly identified Koppen as a key figure holding Rangers back. Ferguson believed that the influx of overpriced and underwhelming signings under Koppen had severely hampered the club’s progress.

Despite Ferguson’s assessment, incoming sporting director Kevin Thelwell and his associate Gretar Steinsson — both tied to the 49ers group — appear poised to retain Koppen’s services through the crucial summer transfer window. Jackson warned that such a move reflects a worrying trend among wealthy American investors entering Scottish football: underestimating the unique challenges of the local game and allowing ego to cloud sound decision-making in the early stages.

Had Ferguson been given the managerial post full-time, Koppen would likely have been dismissed, according to insiders. Instead, Rangers are now in the midst of a managerial search, which appears to have become increasingly chaotic with no firm appointment expected until after the ownership change is finalized.

The race for the Ibrox hot seat remains wide open. Steven Gerrard, the man who led Rangers to an unbeaten title-winning campaign in 2021, has been linked with a sensational return following his exit from Saudi football. However, the frontrunner appears to be Davide Ancelotti — son of legendary coach Carlo Ancelotti — who has emerged as a surprise candidate. With Carlo Ancelotti preparing to move to Brazil, speculation is swirling that Davide and his coaching colleague Francesco Mauri could opt to remain in Europe by taking the reins at Rangers.

While fans await clarity on the club’s new direction, concerns persist that key decision-makers are failing to act on crucial internal weaknesses — with Koppen’s role becoming a focal point in the wider debate about how Rangers should rebuild in pursuit of renewed domestic dominance.