SPFL Colts team initiative

“Colt teams are certainly a way towards bridging that gap, of bringing youth and young players to a level where they can play in men’s football, where they can be judged in men’s football, and where they are surrounded by an environment of men’s football.

“That can be supporters cheering them on or giving them stick. That is all a vital part of a player’s development and you learn about the player and how they cope in that environment.

“Can they take it? Are the only good when nobody is watching? Do they play better when lots of people are watching?

“It is all part of it and it forms the development of any player, so an environment that gets as close to men’s football as possible, as soon as we can get it, can only be a good thing.

“To be honest, from my perspective, that is for the authorities and the regulators to decide when that can be.

“For me, on a purely selfish level, it is the sooner the better. The sooner I can expose young talent to men’s football the better.” Ferguson boosted squads that were full of international players and cost major sums to assemble.

But it must become the norm rather than the exception in the coming years as Allen looks to ensure the investment, both in time and money, pays off and leaves Rangers with something to show for their efforts.

“It is a very dedicated group of people that are very good at their jobs,” he said.