Gordon Smith to become Rangers' director of football

Smith has been a regular football pundit for BBC Scotland since leaving the SFA

Gordon Smith has become Rangers' director of football, with owner Craig Whyte welcoming his wealth of experience in football administration.

Whyte has also appointed former QPR commercial director and deputy managing director Ali Russell as director of operations and commercial activity.

Former Rangers forward Smith last held the position of Scottish Football Association chief executive.

"He has a great Rangers background," Whyte told the club's website.

Whyte bought Rangers from Sir David Murray at the tail end of last season and is in the process of re-shaping the Scottish champions' hierarchy.

And he has looked to the man who played for the Ibrox club from 1977-1980 to assist manager Ally McCoist in his debut season.

Smith's tenure at the SFA - during which he oversaw the appointment of two national managers, George Burley and Craig Levein - was a turbulent one.

Among the incidents he had to handle was a late-night drinking session during Burley's reign that led to bans for Rangers pair Barry Ferguson, who has not played for his country since, and Allan McGregor, the goalkeeper who remains at Ibrox.

Now the 56-year-old Smith will work alongside McCoist in his first season as Rangers boss and will be involved in the club's transfer policy as well as overseeing scouting and the club's youth academy.

"I'm delighted that Gordon and Ali are with us and I think they will be key appointments for us," said Whyte.

"Gordon has a wealth of experience in football administration from his role with the SFA and his contacts in Uefa."

Smith, who served Scotland's governing body from 2007 to 2010 before resigning for personal reasons, spent three seasons at Ibrox and won the treble with Rangers in 1977/78 before leaving to join Brighton.

"I'm sure the fans will be delighted with his appointment," suggested Whyte.

"Gordon will be running things at Murray Park, but he also has a good knowledge on the commercial side, which is a great benefit.

"He will be working with the scouting set-up and also on transfers.

"Ali did a great job at QPR and he will be working with the management team we have at Ibrox.

"Due to my many business commitments, I am unable to work at Rangers every day, so Ali will be carrying out that aspect of things."