OPINION
The role of any director of football worth his salt is to concentrate on the future as well as the here and now.
Rangers recruitment chief Mark Allen always has one eye on the stars of tomorrow and, as the former Manchester City academy chief, has a contacts book and knowledge base that should reap serious dividends.
The Welshman has taken advantage of his knowledge of the City set-up to put in place a deal for a hugely promising player at the Premier League champions.
The Scottish Sun were alert to a tip-off from Rangers TV commentator Tom Miller on Saturday that City rising star Kane Ritchie-Hosler has agreed a pre-contract with the Glasgow giants ahead of a move that will be completed in the summer.
Confirmation of the 16-year-old’s imminent arrival comes just a month after the Light Blues signed Nathan Young-Coombes from Chelsea.
This is hugely encouraging for Bears, who were immensely frustrated when their own rising star Billy Gilmour quit two years ago to head south of the border to the Stamford Bridge outfit.
One of the reasons Allen was appointed was because of his knowledge of youth-team football in England, an area Rangers had neglected for so long during their cash-strapped years.
He has struck gold with the capture of 16-year-old attacker Ritchie-Hosler, who has been learning his trade at one of the best academies in the world, and certainly the most lavishly-funded.
Rangers are set to be the beneficiaries of what could prove to be a very smart piece of business.