MARK ALLEN could walk along Edmiston Drive and his presence would barely be noticed by Rangers supporters.

That relatively low profile is at odds with his importance right now, though.

In many ways, he is the key figure at Ibrox. The decisions he makes over the coming weeks and months won’t just shape Rangers’ future on and off the park, they could decide his own fate and determine the legacy of Dave King’s regime.

Read more: Graeme Murty pleased with Rangers' response to Old Firm defeat after win over Hearts

Little was known about Allen when he was appointed as Director of Football last June and punters and pundits have had few chances to get an insight into his Ibrox vision.

At the AGM in November, Allen was only asked a single question from the floor.

He described himself a few weeks later as the ‘conductor of the orchestra’ and his next moves will show if everyone at Ibrox, at all levels, is singing from the same hymn sheet.

Having had ample opportunity to get his feet under the desk and to assess and analyse every area of the club, Allen is now entering crunch time.

The to-do list is lengthy and covers everything from appointing a manager to identifying signing targets ahead of what, he will hope, is another crack at the Europa League and a sustained challenge in the Premiership.

The first box that must be ticked, of course, is to determine who will lead the Light Blues and that is a decision that has to be made sooner rather than later.

Read more: Jak Alnwick: Rangers must start to make up for Old Firm defeat at Parkhead

It is safe to say that Graeme Murty won’t get the chance to continue beyond the end of the campaign but the former Under-20s boss has certainly done his employers a favour by holding fort for the second half of the season.

Derek McInnes’ decision to reject a return to Ibrox and remain at Aberdeen was undoubtedly a setback for Rangers after they put all their eggs in one basket following the sacking of Pedro Caixinha.

The appointment of Murty was the sensible option, but also the cheap and easy one. It bought them time and now Rangers must prove that period must has been put to good use.

There are no second chances this time around and no excuses can be made.

In the eyes of many fans, it will be a case of get it right, or get out of Ibrox.

Having blundered badly during Mark Warburton’s reign, and then catastrophically during Caixinha’s short-lived and ill-fated spell in charge, Rangers cannot afford to make the wrong call here. That decision will ultimately be a board one, but Allen’s reputation is at stake as well if supporters are left less than impressed with their new boss.

This is no rushed move to fill a void. Four months have now passed since Murty signed a new deal so Rangers have had more than ample time to identify their targets, sound them out, and put a blueprint in place for the future.

Read more: Ratings: How Rangers fared in win over Hearts

The process that brought Allen from Manchester City was a drawn-out affair as well but, having put him in place, Rangers have all their faith in someone that is untested and untried at this level.

The former Academy Director at City, Allen has a UEFA A Licence and business experience with the likes of MTV, but he is now under more scrutiny than ever before.

It is only natural that supporters will question every area of their club when performances and results plunge below an acceptable level. That spotlight has shone on King and his board for some time and it will do so again this summer as Rangers enter the transfer market once more.

But it is Allen and Stewart Robertson, the Managing Director, that will come under the most intense inspection.

The decision to go down the Director of Football route was the right one from Rangers but, like in any business, it will only be successful if the people employed have the right characteristics and skillset.

There would be no better time for Allen to prove his credentials than the present. If he fails, he could become a familiar face for all the wrong reasons for supporters.