RANGERS have confirmed the appointment of Mark Allen as Director of Football.

SportTimes revealed last week that the Manchester City youth chief was the man that the Gers board had chosen to head up their off-field structure.

After bringing the curtain down on his playing career with Swindon Town in the early 80s, Allen spent four years at the United States University in San Diego on a Business Administration with Accounting course.

He would return to the game with City eight years ago after spells as Managing Director of Broadcast Services with MTV Europe and as a Managing Director with Deluxe Digital London.

City have invested heavily in their youth structure over the last few years, with Allen at the heart of their plans to produce their own stars of the future.

Now he will be tasked with implementing his ideas at Ibrox and will work closely with boss Pedro Caixinha, Head of Academy Craig Mulholland and the Light Bluesboard as Rangers look to build for a brighter future on and off the park.

Allen told rangers.co.uk: "I loved every minute of my time with Manchester City, they are a club with fantastic people and fantastic supporters but the time was right for me to look for a fresh challenge and I am joining one of the world’s truly great football clubs.

“Steeped in history and tradition, I am honoured to join Rangers and work with the Board of Directors, Pedro Caixinha, his management team and the staff at the Club.”