ALLEN’S EXIT

Director of football at Ibrox quits

RANGERS last night confirmed the shock departure of director of football Mark Allen.

The Englishman was appointed in 2017 but has now left Ibrox due to ‘family reasons’, according to a club statement.

The former Manchester City academy director’s departure comes days after a frantic transfer window closed and the headline £7million capture of Ryan Kent from Liverpool.

However, Sportsmail understands the Rangers hierarchy were unhappy with the failure to shift more deadwood from the playing squad over the summer and had become aware of tensions behind the scenes.

Charged with revamping the club’s scouting network, Allen’s efforts were acknowledged in the statement released last night.

‘Mark has decided that now is the right time for him to move on for family reasons and in order to explore other options, and leaves with the club’s best wishes,’ it read.

‘Rangers fully respects Mark’s decision and wishes to place on record its thanks to Mark for his hard work and diligence since joining the club in the summer of 2017. In that short time, he has helped

move Rangers into a significantly stronger and more challenging position.

‘During his tenure, Mark has made a hugely positive impact in bringing in a higher quality of first-team player and he has led the renovation and improvement of the Hummel Training Centre, making it fit for a club the size of Rangers.’

Instrumental in landing Swedish defender Filip Helander for £3.5m and the permanent transfer of Kent, the timing and nature of his exit came as a surprise.

Rangers will now consider their options, with a fresh overture to Southampton’s director of operations, Scotsman Ross Wilson, a possibility. Rangers’ head of scouting Andy Scoulding is also close to manager Steven Gerrard and could come into the running.

Thanking Allen for his efforts in helping him settle into his first management job, Gerrard last night said: ‘I would like to place on record my sincere gratitude to Mark for the incredible support he has shown to me and all of my staff since I came to the club 16 months ago.

‘Mark’s success here is evident for all to see and we would all like to wish him well moving forward.’

Allen added: ‘It has been a privilege to work for Rangers, one of the biggest clubs in football with such a phenomenal fan base, and I’ve loved every minute.

‘Bringing Steven Gerrard to the club will always be a special point in my career and I would like to thank him, his excellent staff, the players and all the staff at Rangers for their support throughout my tenure.

‘My greatest wish is for Rangers to start winning trophies again and I wish them all the very best for the future.’

Meanwhile, Gerrard yesterday insisted injured Jordan Jones has learned from his moment of Old Firm madness.

The Northern Ireland winger faces at least a month on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury while making a wild challenge on Celtic’s Moritz Bauer in the recent 2-0 defeat.

Shown a red card by referee Bobby Madden, Jones hirpled away from Ibrox on crutches and later phoned Bauer to apologise.

After a conversation with the former Kilmarnock player, Gerrard believes a chastened Jones can now see the error of his ways.

‘It’s a frustrating one but Jordan has moved on from it and I’ve moved on from it,’ said the Rangers boss. ‘It’s a disappointing one for both of us.

‘He got a tackle in the first few minutes after he came on in the Old Firm game and he’s got an ankle problem from that. Then, in getting the red card, he flared up a knee issue.

‘I don’t think you will see him for, best case, a month. Maybe it will be a little bit longer than that.

‘But I’ve chatted to Jordan, we are going to move on and hopefully get him back as soon as possible.’

The wide man will also watch from the stand when Rangers begin their Europa League campaign with a mouth-watering game against Feyenoord at Ibrox on Thursday night.

‘Jordan is a Rangers fan and I know he’ll be desperate to be involved,’ said Gerrard. ‘So I’m sure he will learn from it.’

Gerrard, meanwhile, has dismissed talk of a move for free agent Claudio Marchisio.

The 33-year-old Italian left Zenit Saint Petersburg by mutual agreement in the summer after an injury-plagued spell.

‘I’m not aware of that,’ shrugged Gerrard. ‘It’s just another name that gets bandied about.’