WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN

Souness insists Gers must keep Thelwell away from January transfer kitty

- BY ANDY NEWPORT

RANGERS legend Graeme Souness has delivered his scathing verdict on Ibrox chief Kevin Thelwell and claims his former club will be taking a major gamble if they allow him to oversee their January transfer spend.

The former Everton director of football was tasked with rebuilding a broken squad when he was hired over the summer.

But his disastrous appointment of Russell Martin blew up after just 122 days, leaving behind a deeply imbalanced squad lacking both leaders and goals.

With Martin gone, the Ibrox support have turned their fire on Thelwell and in particular the sporting director's decision not only to hire his son Robbie to a key scouting position but to sanction the £8million signing of striker Youssef Chermiti, who has so far contributed just one goal.

Their anger was made loud and clear during last week's Europa League loss to Roma - a result that set a new club record of seven straight defeats in UEFA competition as the Gers faithful told him where to go.