RANGERS assistant manager Gary McAllister has expressed confidence that Steven Gerrard will be able to build on the progress he has made at Ibrox next season under new chairman Douglas Park.

The former Scotland midfielder praised Dave King, who stood down last month after five years on the board, for the help he has given his former Liverpool team mate Gerrard since he took over as manager back in 2018.

The England great became the first coach ever to negotiate all four qualifying rounds of the Europa League twice this season and took Rangers through to the last 16 of the competition with home and away wins over Braga earlier this year.

However, McAllister predicted motor tycoon Park, who has been outspoken in his criticism of the SPFL and their handling of the vote on the resolution to end the season in the past week, will help the Glasgow club to move forward now he has taken over on a temporary basis.

"On arrival, we were welcomed by Dave King and he was fantastic,” he told BT Sport. “I think what a lot of people haven’t seen was the support that the manager and all of the staff got on the things we asked for.

"Recruitment is the key thing, trying to make the team on the pitch better, and we’ve been supported by the chairman and the board of directors.

“But all the other things put in place have been massive improvements. The training ground is unrecognisable. At Ibrox, we asked for improvements there and we were given support.

"I’m sure now that Douglas has taken over and stepped into Dave’s shoes, it’ll be the same. The whole Park family has been supportive to all of us, just like Dave King and all the members of the board."

Meanwhile, former Coventry and Leeds United player McAllister has echoed Gerrard’s sentiments on the SPFL’s handling of the resolution on the 2019/20 campaign and revealed the episode it has made the Scottish game a laughing stock in England.

And the former UEFA Cup winner has added his voice to the growing calls – both Park and Gerrard believe an investigation is now required - for an independent inquiry into the vote.

"The facts are that it’s been an untidy week for me,” he said. “It’s looked messy right from the word go - yes votes, no votes, the changing of minds.

"The whole process of the voting has just been messy and untidy and it’s reflected badly on our national sport, on the Scottish game.

"I live in Yorkshire, rent in Glasgow. I’m back south of the border, in Yorkshire, and I’ve got people phoning up just to ask “what’s happening?”.

"They’re gobsmacked at the situation. It’s just been untidy. I reiterate the words of the manager and chairman and board of directors that it’ll take an independent review to clear the whole saga up.”