Former Manchester United interim CEO Patrick Stewart is expected to become Rangers' new CEO.

As revealed exclusively by the Rangers Review on Saturday night, Stewart is set to be appointed as James Bisgrove's successor at Ibrox. Bisgrove departed the club in May for Saudi Arabia leaving Rangers without a Chief Executive for the last seven months.

Meanwhile, Rangers are also set to confirm the appointment of Malcolm Offord as Chairman. Ending their search for John Bennett's successor at the helm of the club.

Who is Stewart and what is his background in football? The Rangers Review takes a closer look.

What is his background?

Stewart, who grew up in Aberdeen, trained as a solicitor and first took a foray into football working as part of UEFA's marketing agency for the Champions League. 

After joining Manchester United as General Counsel and Company Secretary in 2006 the 50-year-old assumed a number of roles within the club, culminating in a spell as interim CEO earlier this year.

He has also held a position at the Court of Arbitration for Sport since 2019 and is one of 14 arbitrators who deal specifically with football issues across the world.

(Image: Rob Casey - SNS Group)

What was his job at Manchester United?

In Stewart's own words: "I was hired as the club’s first General Counsel to create an in-house Legal & Regulatory function."

United were one of the only top-flight clubs with an in-house lawyer when he was appointed, according to the Manchester Evening News. Stewart was tasked with building the legal foundation at Old Trafford, signing off on everything from player contracts to lucrative kit deals.

In 2019 the Scot was appointed to the Manchester United board before becoming an executive at Old Trafford in 2022.

Earlier this year, Stewart was named as Manchester United's Chief Executive on an interim basis as Sir Jim Ratcliffe invested in the club. His appointment marked Richard Arnold’s exit after just two years in the role. Stewart left Old Trafford at the end of last season to pursue new opportunities. 

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What role will he assume at Rangers?

Rangers have been without a CEO since James Bisgrove left the club before the summer. 

Bisgrove, previously the head of marketing and commercial at Ibrox, replaced Stewart Robertson as the club's Managing Director in 2023. 

John Gilligan and George Letham have been working as interim Chairman and CEO over the past four months with Rangers' executive structure in constant upheaval. Earlier this week Nils Koppen was promoted from his role as Director of Football Recruitment to become the club's Technical Director.

While the role increases Koppen's responsibility, it does not give him jurisdiction over the manager and the Rangers Review understands the appointment of a further football director, in the mould of a sporting director, is not off the table. That's a decision that will rest on the shoulders of the new CEO.