3.36pm - UPDATE: Martin Allen makes first Cheltenham signing - with video

MARTIN ALLEN has been confirmed as the new manager of Cheltenham Town - and has already made his first signing.

Bristol City midfielder Scott Murray has been brought in to Whaddon Road on a one-month emergency loan and will go straight into the Robins squad for tomorrow night's clash with bristol Rovers. 

Earlier, it was announced 43-year-old former Brentford and Leicester boss Allen would take over from Keith Downing, who left the club by mutual consent on Saturday after a disappointing start to the season.

He has agreed a three-year contract with the club and will take charge of the team immediately ahead of tomorrow night's game against Bristol Rovers at Whaddon Road.

The new boss took a call during the press conference from Bristol City manager Gary Johnson concerning Murray, who was on his way to sign at Whaddon Road.

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At the press conference to announce his arrival this morning, Allen - nicknamed 'mad dog' for his managerial reputation - revealed he had brought his own dog Monty with him to Gloucestershire.

He also confidently assured fans the club would be successful with him at the helm.

"It's going to go right down to the wire - whether we reach the playoffs or not," he said.

Allen becomes the sixth man to manage the Robins since their elevation to the Football League in 1999, following Steve Cotterill, Graham Allner, Bobby Gould, John Ward and most recently Downing into the Whaddon Road hotseat.

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Part of the renowned, London-based Allen clan, Martin can claim numerous family links to football.

His cousins Clive, Paul and Bradley all enjoyed successful playing careers as did his father Denis who also had a four-year spell as Cheltenham Town manager in the late 1970's.

A fiery character, Allen earned the nickname Mad Dog for his committed displays as a midfielder for Queens Park Rangers and West Ham in a 403 appearance League career spanning over 15 years.

He began his coaching career as assistant to Alan Pardew at Reading, where he helped guide the Royals to promotion to the Championship in 2002.

He was appointed as manager of Conference strugglers Barnet in March 2003 and immediately transformed the Bees into a side capable of gaining promotion back to the Football League.

His work at Underhill gained the admiration of a number of League clubs and he was appointed as manager of Brentford in March 2004.

After saving the West London club from relegation in his first season, he transformed them into a side capable of competing at the right end of the League One table.

Brentford made the play-offs in both the 2004-5 and 2005-6 seasons, and enjoyed further success in the F.A. Cup reaching the fifth round in for two consecutive years.

He left Griffin Park in the summer of 2006 after becoming disenchanted with financial turmoil at the club and took over as manager of the Milton Keynes Dons.

He guided the franchise to a play-off spot in 2007 before moving to Leicester at the end of the season.

His spell at the Walkers Stadium was short lived and he left the club after just four games of the 2007-8 season after a breakdown in his relationship with chairman Milan Mandaric.

Allen's charisma and driven personality is certain to make him a favourite with the Whaddon Road faithful.

While manager of Brentford he joined supporters on a 25-mile fund raising cycle ride and once memorably jumped - full clothed - into the Solent ahead of an F.A. Cup tie at Southampton.

He has managed at Whaddon Road once before, bringing his Brentford side to Whaddon Road for a League Cup tie in 2005.

He included his father's name on the boardroom list that night as a mark of respect to the times the pair enjoyed together when the young Martin would accompany the then Robins manager to games.

Thirty years after sitting in the Whaddon Road dugout as a child Martin Allen will follow in his father's footsteps when his Cheltenham Town side host Bristol Rovers tomorrow evening.

Cheltenham Town fans are reminded that they can pay less for tomorrow night’s big derby game with Bristol Rovers – by buying their match tickets today.

The League One clash is Martin Allen’s first in charge for the Robins and could draw the biggest crowd of the season so far to Whaddon Road.

Fans who join the new fan membership scheme today will get their ticket for the Rovers game for £2 less than they would on the gate tomorrow night.

The membership scheme also gives fans priority ahead of all non-season-ticket holders for away matches and for home cup games.