THE where and when are fairly simple to answer. The how was the big question that Ross Wilson required insight on at Ibrox.
Rangers need to return to top spot in Scotland, to be winning leagues and cups domestically whilst competing in Europe. And it has to happen as quickly as possible, sooner rather than later.
The end goals are clear for everyone from Dave King to Steven Gerrard, from the players to the staff. Wilson is now part of that team and it was the vision that was presented to him that convinced him to make the move from Southampton to become the Light Blues’ new Sporting Director.
Two years ago, Wilson rejected the chance to oversee Rangers’ football operations but he has kept a close eye on the work that Gerrard is doing and that Mark Allen undertook as Director of Football.
The second approach from Rangers proved too good to turn down and the blueprint that Wilson was shown matched his own philosophy and ambitions.
“The board are continuing to invest in the club to get us back to where we want to get to,” he said.
“Clearly, like many in most clubs part of that will be transfers out as well as transfers in to reinvest in the club. But I have not been asked to make sure we sell players to make sure we can reinvest in the team.
“The board have committed that they will continue to invest in the club going forward. The biggest me part of me understanding the future here was knowing that everyone is on the same page as to what this role looks like.
“I do understand that many clubs view it differently. I came from a place where it was absolutely clear and I had absolute confidence in the people I was working with.
“It would have been difficult for me to step out of that without knowing the club I was joining had a real clarity about what this role is. The board are absolutely clear about where they want to go and the importance of this role in that.”
The appointment of Wilson was another reason for supporters to be encouraged this term and a sign of the continued progression that Rangers are making at present.
It is Gerrard that has been the catalyst for change at Ibrox and his impact on and off the park cannot be underestimated.
The 39-year-old spoke appreciatively of the work that Allen did and Wilson has now picked up where he left off in September.
“It’s one of the most important relationships and something that’s really important to me,” he said of his camaraderie with Gerrard.
“I have had strong relationship with all the managers that I’ve worked with. Before I accepted the job it was really important that Steven and I had a really clear chat in terms of how I saw the role and how he saw the role.
“I have to say we are absolutely on the same page. The relationship has been excellent so far. I have really enjoyed working with him so far. Clearly you develop a relationship over a period of time rather than one or two weeks.”
It is several years since Wilson made the move south of the border after starting his career with Falkirk and his influence and reputation has grown steadily. So, too, has the prominence of figures that oversee football departments from first team to youth team.
Scottish football could be accused of being reluctant to innovation at times but Wilson, who has also held roles at Watford and Huddersfield, doesn’t concern himself with any scepticism.
“I genuinely don’t feel that in England anymore,” he said. “The role feels embedded in England and Europe in the way big clubs, and some not so big clubs, work.
“I’ve only just come back over the border so I don’t know what the view of it is here. But I hope we can have the view it becomes embedded in Scottish football as well.
“I always find these questions difficult because I’ve never had any issue with it during my time in England, from when I started at Watford and had a really strong relationship with Sean Dyche right through the relationships I had with the managers at Huddersfield and Southampton.
“The continental managers are used to that relationship anyway, from Ronald Koeman right through to Ralph Hasenhuttl at the end.
“I think if you said to Ronald or Ralph they were going to work without a sporting director, they would think you were off your head.
“I’ve never seen any resistance towards the role from managers or coaches whatsoever, although I get that it might be different in Scotland.”
A lot of the work that Wilson will do at Ibrox and the Hummel Training Centre will go unnoticed in the public eye but he has an opportunity to make a real difference to the way that Rangers operate. As is the case with everyone at the club, the success of Gerrard’s side will, unfairly at times, shape wider opinion.
Wilson said: “It’s always difficult for the fans looking from the outside in. The fans will always be looking to judge the team winning on the pitch, scouting and recruitment, whether they like the manager or not. Whether they like me or not, I suppose.
“I think it’s always difficult for the fans to judge the success of a sporting director and it’s almost like an occupational hazard for me that you can never really say how you should be judged. I am probably more interested in how I’m judged internally by the players I am working with and leading every day, making sure we get this culture strong internally and our processes are working well for us.
“I will be quite happy to be judged internally and understand that externally it’s difficult for people to truly judge your work.”
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