McCoist's worst fears over Rangers might just be about to become reality

Chief football writer

Wednesday 25 April 2012

AT the time it sounded as if Ally McCoist was scaremongering.

Kyle Lafferty was suspended by Rangers yesterday for failing to report for duty against Hearts but Ally McCoist insists he might still have a future at the club. Picture: SNS

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Michael Grant

Five days ago, he tossed up the notion that resources could be so threadbare for Rangers next season that they might be able to compete for no more than a place in the top six. "Fourth might not be remotely possible," he said. Even these days, when it can seem as if anything goes when it comes to the stress Rangers are suffering, that came across as unnecessarily morose. Many took it with a pinch of salt. Rangers grubbing around in no-man's land? Surely not?

The McCoist phrase which has become iconic around the club recently is "we don't do walking away", although he might just as easily have said "we don't do relegation battles" or "we don't do finishing mid-table". Rangers have finished lower than second only twice in the past 26 years, in 1988 and 2006. In the first half of the 1980s there were four consecutive seasons in which they finished outside the top three, and in 1986 they drifted to fifth. But, by their standards, those were years of unimaginable hardship. In their entire history – the history on which a full stop will be placed if they are liquidated – the lowest they have finished was sixth in 1926. Rangers' parameters are about to change. When McCoist made those remarks about finishing in the top six he did so on the basis that he would still have some freedom to spend in the summer transfer window. He knew he wouldn't have much, and would have to replace significant departures with inferior players, but he did envisage being able to refresh his squad to some extent. Whether he was working with the Blue Knights or Bill Miller, whether they were out of administration via a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) or some form of newco, McCoist expected to be able to do a little bit of trading. No-one at Rangers, including him, anticipated a 12-month signing embargo imposed by the Scottish Football Association. Rangers have been banned from registering new players since entering administration on February 14, but that has been irrelevant. Outside of a transfer window any embargo doesn't amount to much of a punishment. Instead of being able to sign again in the summer, though, the Ibrox club have been told they cannot register any player over the age of 18 until April 2013.Miller, the 65-year-old American, has been clear about his interest in owning Rangers: any ongoing punishment from the SFA or SPL and he'd head for the hills. If he's true to his word on that point, the only potential new owners are the Blue Knights. In one minor sense a transfer embargo relieved a little pressure on Paul Murray and his consortium when news of it emerged on Monday night. If an appeal fails in the coming days and the ban is upheld, a new owner will face no pressure from fans to start investing in the team. Other than offering new contracts or improved deals to those already on the books – or signing promising under-18s – there will be nothing they can do to improve the squad. On the other hand, if the embargo holds it means anyone looking to buy Rangers cannot rely on getting the £2.5m from finishing second. A drop to third pays almost £1m less.Whatever its implications on Miller and the Knights' takeover proposals, a transfer ban raises two questions for McCoist: firstly, will it affect what his leading players think about staying at Ibrox and, secondly, what sort of squad does it leave him with?The worst-case scenario is that his high-earners decide at least one season without European football, and no investment in an inadequate squad, will mean idling at a club with little prospect of winning the title or furthering their careers. Steven Davis, Allan McGregor, Steven Naismith, Steven Whittaker, Carlos Bocanegra, Maurice Edu and Dorin Goian are understood to have clauses in their contracts allowing them to leave for cheaper-than-usual fees. So, too, does Kyle Lafferty. It had appeared the Northern Irishman had played his last game for the club after being suspended for a fortnight following a fall-out with McCoist, but the manager last night insisted that, even though the forward's agent had held talks with a Championship club, he may still have a future at Ibrox should he mend his ways.Beyond that, Neil Alexander will be cut from the wage bill and Kyle Bartley will return to Arsenal, but resources are bleak beyond the high earners. Scott Gallacher and Grant Adam are the goalkeepers. The defenders are Lee Wallace, Kirk Broadfoot, Ross Perry and Darren Cole (unless a new deal is also offered to and accepted by Sasa Papac). In midfield, he would have Lee McCulloch, Juanma Ortiz, Alejandro Bedoya, Jamie Ness, Kyle Hutton, Rhys McCabe, Andrew Mitchell and John Fleck. A new deal would have to be offered to and accepted by Sone Aluko. Up front, there would be David Healy, Salim Kerkar and Andrew Little (but only if all three are offered and accept new deals) and Kane Hemmings.There is little comfort in looking to the youths. They are 20 points behind champions Celtic in the under-19 league, which is almost over. The club will look at that table and hope it is not a chilling window on the future: Celtic top, and Rangers limping home in fifth.

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McCoist's worst fears over Rangers might just be about to become reality

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