FORMER Rangers assistant David Weir has been handed a new role as Brighton and Hove Albion’s first pathway development manager.

The 48-year-old spent five and half seasons as a player at Ibrox before returning to the club as Mark Warburton’s number two in 2015.

Weir departed with the Englishman in February 2017 before joining him at Nottingham Forest up until their sacking in December last year.

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The 69-time Scotland internationalist was handed a brand new role with the Seagulls on Monday, where he will be responsible for monitoring the progress and overseeing the development of players who are out on loan.

Brighton head of recruitment Paul Winstanley said: “With an increasing number of our younger players going out on loan, this is a particular area in which we feel it is important for us to develop.  

“David will be responsible for working with those players individually and collectively, during pre-season and throughout their loan spells to help their footballing development, with the aim of assisting with their graduation to long term first-team football.

“He will also monitor the senior professionals who are out on loan and feed back to Chris Hughton, the recruitment team and the club’s coaches at the relevant level.

“David has an excellent playing and coaching CV, has excellent contacts throughout the football world and is hugely respected within the industry. We are absolutely delighted to welcome him to the club.”

Brighton are busy preparing for their second campaign in the English top-flight after securing survival with a 15-th place finish last season.