'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."

Thelwell, who has had previous posts at Preston, Derby, Wolves, New York Red Bulls and Everton, described Martin as "one of the best" managers he has worked with.

"He's very good on the grass, very well organised, he's extremely high energy," he said of the former Southampton and Swansea boss.

"He gives time to players, wants to develop players. He cares about the group, he cares about the results and performances. I've found him very collaborative."

However, Thelwell did warn that Rangers "must do better" after falling six points behind champions Celtic and exiting Champions League qualifying with a bruising 9-1 aggregate defeat to Club Brugge.

"What we've delivered so far hasn't been good enough," he admitted. "I can't say we need patience, we haven't earned that. But there needs to be some perspective."

Adding his "feet haven't really touched the ground" during a period of rapid transformation, Thelwell thinks the sheer scale of change could explain a level of "volatility" and "inconsistency".

But he assured frustrated fans: "There is a huge amount of alignment within this building, huge alignment with leadership and ownership that believes we are heading in the right direction and believe we can deliver the success everyone craves."