New Orleans Saints hire Dennis Allen

The New Orleans Saints have appointed Dennis Allen as their senior defensive assistant to work with current defensive co-ordinator Rob Ryan.

The former Oakland Raiders coach will be joined as a new recruit at the franchise by former Miami Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland, who will handle college scouting for the Saints.

Allen served as a defensive assistant with New Orleans between 2006 and 2010, which included their Super Bowl championship season in 2009.

The 42-year-old was fired just four games into this season after the Raiders got off to a 0-4 start, while he was 8-28 overall as a head coach in Oakland.

It had been speculation that Allen was set to re-unite with John Fox at the Chicago Bears after he moved to Denver to become his defensive co-ordinator in 2011.