interview Rangers' manager calls for patience from the fans as he leads drive for players before the new season kicks off, writes Richard Wilson

His reign as Walter Smith’s successor has begun with a series of rejections, and he knows well enough that supporters grow restless in the absence of any transfer business. But his message to the club’s followers is typically optimistic.

“I’m here to reassure the fans that we are working very hard to get new players in,” McCoist says, “and we will succeed, because Craig [Whyte] and I both know we have to build a squad to retain the championship and hopefully to attain a reasonable level in the Champions League. That’s our targets. But we don’t have to start pressing any panic buttons just because no-one has arrived.”

Rangers have lost out on Tomer Hemed, Craig Conway and Neil Danns and the reaction to these setbacks divides the cynics from the faithful. Should Rangers have offered these players more money to sign? Or should the club refuse to compromise its valuations of how much targets are worth? Perhaps the reality is somewhere in the middle, that in a constantly changing environment, priorities are forever shifting.

McCoist understands that as more time passes without him adding to the squad, the more room there is for doubts to grow. It is in his favour that he has become manager at the start of a new era for the club, but Whyte’s takeover has renewed expectations of Rangers being decisive and ambitious in the transfer market. Instead, they have encountered a reality, where clubs and players believe them to be flush, and so fees and wages are inflated.

“There is an element of that, but we can be no different from any other club in that we must get value for money,” added McCoist. “We will not spend money needlessly or carelessly. It is safe to say, although I’m not 100% sure, that the two boys [Conway and Danns] probably went for more money. Craig [Whyte] is an intelligent man, and a very good businessman, so he won’t be held to ransom. You need to have a value of a player and a shut-off point where you say you are walking away.”

McCoist accepts that adding to the squad will take time and patience. Even so, the perception that Rangers have been unable to close out any transfer deals is troublesome when the season kicks off in a little more than three weeks. Supporters do not tend to be over-burdened with patience, and McCoist himself will want to make the kind of significant, keynote signing that can set the tone for the beginning of his time as manager.

But for now he has to ask for understanding and trust that enough funds will be available to sign the players he needs in defence, midfield and attack. He is hopeful that deals can be struck for Lee Wallace and David Goodwillie, while Carlos Cuellar remains high on his list of targets. Danny Wilson is an option on loan from Liverpool and Arsenal want to wait until August before making a decision on Kyle Bartley’s future.

“We have a list of targets and we are looking to push forward with them,” said McCoist. “There will be disappointments -- that’s part of the game. The perfect example from last season was the signing of [Nikica] Jelavic. That deal was on-off four or five times before we got it over the line. That turned out to be a tremendous piece of business. So transfers can take a little bit longer than everybody hopes.

“We’re light at centre-back, so I’m aware that it’s a priority position. Because of the early start to our season, it puts everyone in Scottish football behind the 8-ball. It’s another reason why someone could hold a gun to our head, they know our priority is July 23. Everyone up here thinks the early start is a good thing, but in my opinion, that’s a massive negative.”

McCoist is comfortable with the appointment of Gordon Smith as director of football, because he has already been assured by Whyte that he will have autonomy over all decisions affecting the team. Smith will be involved in transfer negotiations as well as overseeing the scouting network and youth set-up, but McCoist also expects Whyte to continue to be heavily involved in all aspects of the club.

“He is not up here all the time, but we speak a good number of times a day on the phone,” said the manager. “The relationship between Craig and myself is the most important one at the club. I don’t know exactly what I have to spend for the simple reason that Craig and I have had a chat and we can come and go a wee bit. He has not set it in stone, because he knows circumstances might arise where we have to go a little bit over. You’ll probably have a fair idea [of his budget] by the time we have finished. There will not be too much loose change.

“I promise you, in the very near future, we’ll certainly have a few bodies in.”