Allen: Youth backed from top to bottom at Light Blues

RANGERS Ibrox DoF tells Auchenhowie kids they have their best

increased as he works alongside head of academy Craig Mulholland and the new band of coaches, and new batches of players, making their way in blue.

“There is an opportunity here and one of the parts of me taking this job was that there had to be an acceptance that there was a place for youth development and that there was a pathway through to the first team,” Allen told SportTimes.

“I have put that very high on the agenda in terms of the strategy of the football club. What I need to do is ensure we invest in the right facilities, the right players, the right programmes, and we but quite another having the talent and mentality to forge a career at Rangers. For the majority, that challenge will prove beyond them.

That won’t stop the kids and coaches from trying, however, and their efforts won’t be overlooked at Ibrox while Gerrard is at the helm.

The 38-year-old’s own rise to prominence at Liverpool should inspire any player who dares to dream, while his coaching experience with the Reds’ Under-19s has given him a fresh perspective from the sidelines.

“It was all part of the recruitment policy when I was looking for a manager,” Allen said. “One of the significant factors was someone that believed in youth development and someone that was prepared to give youth a chance, if they are good enough.

“But I think we are very fortunate that we have a manager that has come through a very successful Academy himself and reached the highest levels in the game.

“He is an advocate and a supporter of a youth development and I think he would like nothing better than to promote young players, if they are good enough.”

The question of quality is as important at Under-17 or Under-20 level as it is when it comes to the first team that Gerrard overhauled in the summer. If you are not good enough, then you are no use to Rangers.

The nurturing of their own talent was once an added bonus for Rangers as the likes of Allan McGregor (inset, right) and Barry

‘‘

ambitious teams from the Highland League and Lowland League a chance to move up the professional pyramid and progress in the SPFL ranks without having to go through the current playoff system.

And it would also provide a safety net for current League Two clubs that fear dropping out of the SPFL should they finish bottom of the fourth division.

Rangers would likely be joined by Old Firm rivals Celtic in providing a team for the new league should the opportunity arise in the future.

And former Manchester City Head of Academy Allen believes the benefits would be clear for the Light Blues as he looks to promote up-and-coming talents through the ranks and into Steven Gerrard’s first team squad.

He told SportTimes: “I have been quite open about this from my time in England and the gap between youth football and first team is huge and we have got to find a way, in this country, of bridging that gap.