GARY MCALLISTER insists Jon Flanagan should be given a second chance in football as he closes in on a move to Rangers.

The defender was strongly condemned by Liverpool after being convicted of assaulting his girlfriend and given a 12-month community order with 40 hours unpaid work.

Flanagan pleaded guilty to the charge after being arrested during a night out at Christmas. He was also ordered to complete 15 rehabilitation days following a hearing at Liverpool Magistrates Court.

The 25-year-old spent the second half of the campaign at Bolton before being released by the Reds and he is now closing in on a deal at Ibrox.

And Light Blues assistant McAllister believes he should be allowed to try and put his controversial past behind him if he joins Steven Gerrard’s side.

He said: “The club is in talks. We are in the medical stages at the moment and that is going to be in-depth because Jon Flanagan has had problems in the past with parts of his body.

“It is deep and thorough and that is where it’s at. He is en route.

“I feel that [he deserves a second chance]. It was unacceptable, most definitely.

“I have a little bit of an in because I worked at Liverpool but it was unacceptable and a really poor decision that he made in that episode. But, he deserves a second chance.

“He showed remorse, he put his hand up and has taken his punishment. He wants to get on with his life and his football life.

“I haven’t worked with him directly but I know him from my time at Liverpool. Great lad, very approachable man, extremely hard working.

“He’s tough, unassuming, he is an old school full-back that can play either side, he can play two in a back four, three of a back five, a back three, so he is versatile.

“But the big thing is that we know him, we know his character and we think he can deal with 50,000. The expectation here is exactly the same as Liverpool.

“Dealing with those expectations and the crowd is something we know he can cope with.”

Flanagan is poised to become the seventh signing of the summer for Rangers and will link-up with Gerrard’s side at their training camp in Spain.

More arrivals are expected in the coming weeks and McAllister is keen to continue adding strength and depth to the squad.

He said: “It is ongoing, it always is and it will be ongoing right throughout the season. In transfer windows, out of transfer windows, if we can get people that will make us better then we have got to be interested.”

The capture of Flanagan will provide much-needed cover in both full-back positions as Gerrard bolsters his ranks ahead of the new campaign.

But the move for the former England international won’t signal the end of James Tavernier’s Ibrox career this summer.

He said: “In this period where Rangers have taken a bit of criticism, James has been one of the standout players and he is going to be key for us.”