Gary Keown has called for Rangers to consider hiring someone from outside the usual circle of familiar faces following the resignation of John Bennett as chairman. Bennett stepped down from his role due to health concerns, with the club confirming on 14 September that former director John Gilligan would temporarily take over until a permanent replacement is found. The Athletic has reported that Rangers are not in a rush to appoint Bennett’s successor, with their current priority being the search for a new CEO.
In his column for the Scottish Mail on Sunday, Keown expressed his view that Rangers need fresh leadership and should avoid repeating the cycle of appointing well-known figures from within the club’s traditional ranks. He noted that recent years have seen various individuals like Dave King, Douglas Park, and Alastair Johnston rotate through leadership positions, often hailed as “Rangers men” due to their deep connection with the club. However, Keown suggested it might be time for the Scottish giants to place less emphasis on such internal loyalty and instead consider bringing in someone from outside Ibrox with the proven expertise to get the club back on track.
Keown’s remarks come amid mounting pressure on Rangers, both on and off the pitch. Bennett had faced criticism from fans for decisions made during his tenure, particularly regarding the club’s perceived stagnation and growing gap with rivals Celtic. One of the most recent points of frustration was the club’s failure to appoint Jim Gillespie from St Mirren as CEO, a decision that added to the dissatisfaction among supporters. BBC Sport also reported that Bennett had never shown interest in the CEO role, further complicating the leadership situation.
Given the challenges Rangers currently face, both financially and competitively, Keown argued that fresh ideas and external insight could help bring stability and progress. He likened the club’s situation to “Groundhog Day,” where the same internal figures keep cycling through leadership roles, yet little changes in the club’s fortunes.
While Rangers are not rushing to appoint a permanent replacement for Bennett, the decision on who takes over the chairman role will be crucial in shaping the club’s future direction, particularly as they seek to close the gap with Celtic and regain dominance in Scottish football.
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