RANGERS have confirmed striker Jermain Defoe has taken up a first team coaching role at Auchenhowie as he joins Steven Gerrard's staff ahead of the new campaign.
Defoe agreed an extension to his Ibrox contract earlier this summer and revealed he was set to take his first steps into coaching as he prepares for the next stage of his career.
That role will be as part of Gerrard's support network as he joins Gary McAllister, Michael Beale, Tom Culshaw, Colin Stewart and Jordan Milsom on the first team staff.
It has also been confirmed that David McCallum and Brian Gilmour will lead the B Team in the Lowland League, while Cameron Campbell will take the Under-18s next term.
"It is great to see the players back firstly and all the staff," sporting director Ross Wilson told RangersTV. "The training ground can be a bit of an empty period in the time leading up to pre-season anyway.
"But having everybody back now is great - this has always been a really tight squad together, so having them all back and feeling their spirit around the place is great.
"There has been a lot of work done here over the summer and the pitches are looking excellent, and there are still some enhancements being done internally inside the building as well, so the place looks great but it is great to have everyone back round it again.
"I talk about 'one club' a lot, and it is about making sure we are absolutely joined up as a club, and whatever practices we are seeing take place at first-team level, can we cascade them into our B Team and into our under-18 team and make sure that we stay ahead, stay current, stay fresh and definitely stay aligned to our strategy and our plan.
"I think that is what we have got now - we have a group of people that really understand what Rangers' strategy and plan looks like, what we are working towards and it is a pleasure to be here and lead these people every day as everyone is absolutely bought into what we are trying to do."
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