Rangers announce Academy overhaul

Rangers have this afternoon announced the return of four former players as part of a reshuffle of the coaching staff in the club’s Academy.

Peter Lovenkrands, Andy Little, Stephen Wright and Brian Gilmour will all take up posts at Auchenhowie with current Developmeny Squad coach Graeme Murty also taking on responsibility as the head of Academy coaching. Murty’s expanded role will include implementing the club’s new ‘Rangers Performance Coaching Culture’ initiative as steps continue to be taken to provide the best coaching to the young players at the club.

Former defender Stephen Wright will leave his position as the head of the Fife Elite Academy to take on responsibility for the 13-15 year old age groups as well as daily coaching at Boclair Academy where a number of the Academy players are enrolled. Peter Lovenkrands and Brian Gilmour will take up part-time roles working under Wright with the Intermediate Academy.

9-times capped Northern Ireland international Little will work part-time with the 8-10 age group, combining it with his playing duties at Stirling Albion, and as an Auchenhowie graduate will be best placed to pass on his experience to the aspiring starlets.

There has also been a shake-up of the existing coaching staff. Davie McCallum will take over the 16 and 17 age groups, replacing Billy Kirkwood who will now assist Graeme Murty with the U20s, and Alan Boyd will take control of the Children’s Academy.

Speaking to Rangers’ official website, Academy head Craig Mulholland said: Rangers Performance Coaching Culture is another exciting initiative we have been working on for some time. Graeme will lead the project along with the new heads of each Academy phase. It is a great time for the new coaches to be joining us as they will, alongside some top existing staff, be challenged to become experts in their field. I know the young players will be excited to be working with ex-Rangers players however they are joining the Academy, not as a consequence of being ex-players, but because we believe they have the qualities, potential and attributes which will assist us in taking our Academy coaching to a new level