McCall: Scottish football would benefit from Rangers winning promotion

Hearts are already guaranteed a return to the top flight after winning the Championship, and Rangers could yet join them should they make it through the play-offs. McCall believes the crowds these two clubs generate - both at home and on the road - would make a massive difference to the finances of many of the smaller Premiership clubs who have struggled to bolster attendances. And he revealed not having Rangers in the top flight for the past three seasons has hit many provincial clubs in the pocket.

"When Rangers went out the league, at Motherwell we lost £250,000 from those two home visits," he said. "In the grand scheme of things down in England in the Premier League or the Championship £250,000 isn't a lot. But up in Scotland that's a huge amount of money. Regardless of what people say, or whether they were glad to see the back of Rangers, this season Rangers, Hearts and Hibs - who all carry a good support away from home - [have all been out the top division] and the clubs in the top league have all struggled financially because of that.

"If you were to look at the attendances - Hamilton get about 1500, Inverness get 2000 and a bit, St Johnstone 3000, and Motherwell 4000. Those clubs in their own way have done fantastic and are well-organised and well-managed, and have all brought young players through.

"But we're talking about going to games where there are 40,000 there or packing your stadium out the way Hearts do with 20,000. When we're talking about the top level, that's what you want to see. You want to see fans at the game and returning to football. The fanbase of the two Edinburgh sides have got, as well as Aberdeen, Rangers and Celtic, are all huge in Scottish football.

"Crowds [elsewhere] have been dipping, there's no doubt about that. I loved my time at Motherwell but the crowds could never get above 4500 to 5000, no matter what we did with the prices or whatever. It's a small town in Lanarkshire, with half either Rangers or Celtic supporters and the rest watching Motherwell, so it's always difficult getting people into the stadium."

McCall believes Rangers would be challenging for a European place if they were to gain promotion but warned against the likelihood of the Ibrox side finishing in the top two next year.

"I came here on a short-term gig, I knew that, to try to lift morale and confidence, "he added. "It had got low, there's no doubt. Off the field the chairman said there was a seven-year plan to get back to where Rangers were 15 or 20 years ago. I don't think it would take a lot if, and there's still a lot of work to do, Rangers were to get up. I think next season they would be able to challenge for a European place. But that's different from being able to challenge Celtic and maybe Aberdeen who are strong as well.

"They've got everything in place, and hopefully more investment is coming into the club as well. Off the park we're in good hands. On the park my ambition is to get the team out of the league. The play-offs will be exciting for most neutrals but they will be edgy for the managers involved!"

McCall took soundings from Walter Smith before accepting the manager's job, admitting he could not turn it down despite the difficult operating conditions. McCall became Rangers' third manager of the season after succeeding Ally McCoist and Kenny McDowall but has transformed the team into play-off contenders.

"Walter Smith rung me up on the day I took the job and asked if I knew what I'd let myself in for," he told TalkSport. "But in fairness, he understood I would never have got the opportunity to manage such a wonderful club like this [were it not for the club's current circumstances].

"Even though I knew it was a gamble and with the pitfalls, just to be part of it has been great. Regardless of what happens at the end of the season, I have relished every minute of it and I'm thoroughly enjoying it, especially with the results being good."