Rangers hire three new coaches in academy shake-up

RANGERS have hired Gardner Speirs and Malky Thomson as youth coaches as part of a restructuring of the club’s academy staff.

Andy Kirk gets youth coaching role. Picture: SNS

Both were appointed last month – before Dave King’s consortium won control at Ibrox – and have been tasked with overseeing the under-15 and under-13 squads respectively.

Craig Mulholland, now in charge of youth operations at Murray Park after Jim Sinclair’s departure late last year, has also drafted in former Hearts striker Andy Kirk.

The ex-Northern Ireland cap – most recently with Alloa until the end of last season – is assisting Speirs, who ended a five-year stint in charge of Queen’s Park in 2013.

Andy Kirk gets youth coaching role. Picture: SNS

Mulholland feels his experience bringing through young talent such as Andrew Robertson at Queen’s and in previous roles at Ross County and Aberdeen can help Rangers.

Thomson has returned to the club having previously worked there under Alex McLeish, who recruited the former Dons youth after being impressed by him when they were both at Hibs.

Craig Brewster’s assistant at both Inverness and Dundee United, he has also held the same position at Blackpool and has coached at Birmingham and Celtic.