CRISIS at Ibrox?

Willie Johnston gives a throaty laugh and a shake of the head. He's seen it much worse than this. Johnston's first spell at Rangers was difficult given the domestic dominance of Jock Stein's Celtic but it was not entirely without success. Rangers reached the European Cup-Winners' Cup final in 1967 then won the same trophy five seasons later. This year marks the 40th anniversary of that triumph in Barcelona and Johnston was back at Ibrox yesterday with most of the gang – only John Greig, Willie Mathieson and Alfie Conn were absent – to promote a dinner to celebrate the achievement.

Johnston left Rangers for West Bromwich Albion a few months after that European triumph. When he returned eight years later, in 1980, it was in rather more trying circumstances. Greig, a treble-winning captain in 1978, had ascended to the manager's job but was struggling to make it work given the emergence of Aberdeen and Dundee United alongside the traditional challenge from Celtic. Johnston stayed for two years during which time Rangers rarely looked like winning the title. It would take the arrival of Graeme Souness before the championship eventually returned to Ibrox after a nine year-wait.

Johnston now works at the club as a matchday host, close enough to the action to be aware of the team's struggles on the pitch as well as the financial difficulties off it. He believes the current problems are less significant than the dark days of the early 1980s, and is confident manager Ally McCoist is better equipped than Greig was to deal with what lies ahead.

"Those were the bad times – it's better now I'd say. Listen, we couldn't get out of the front door of Ibrox sometimes. We had to cut across the stadium and go out another door. That happened a few times. Those were tough times for the club under Greigy. I saw a change in John when I returned to Rangers for a second spell and he was manager. I think Ally will handle the pressure better than big John did. He couldn't handle it. Ally is the last man who would walk away. That's just the way he is. He's determined to prove himself as a manager after proving himself at everything else.

"I think the fact he's been a success throughout his career will make him even more determined not to fail. I think he's at Ibrox for the long haul. I certainly hope he is. He has got one of the hardest jobs in the world, especially with what's happening off the park. That makes it even more difficult. But Ally will do well and I think what's happening just now will help him in his managerial career."

It would undoubtedly help McCoist's cause if he could hold on to Nikica Jelavic until the summer at least. A number of English clubs have been quoted with an interest in the Croat but Johnston hopes the striker stays.

"I wouldn't like to see Jelavic go because on the park he's a big asset to the team. The advice I'd give him would be 'stay on in Scotland for another year or two' and if he wants to go to England then he'll be a better player for waiting. Rangers have got to keep everybody if they're going to win the title, but he is the main asset for them, the main man, because he's the goalscorer."

Johnston can barely believe 40 years have now passed since his and Rangers' greatest achievement. It remains a proud memory, although the fact the team did not enjoy an official trophy presentation as a result of a pitch invasion still rankles.

"It amazes me sometimes just how much we're reminded of Barcelona, especially after 40 years. You wouldn't expect people to remember it so much but I must say it's nice. It doesn't feel like 40 years. It's gone very quickly.

"The thing I remember most is the fans coming on the park and Colin Stein waiting for me in the tunnel. He said to me 'Bud, that's the first time I've ever beaten you in a sprint!' I couldn't get off the park because there were that many fans but he was near the mouth of the tunnel. I got caught up in a bit with all the fans. I thought it was time up, I didn't realise what was happening.

"We felt robbed by the fact we didn't get the proper trophy presentation. We were on a right downer, we weren't even sure if we were going to get the cup when we found out what had happened. But it's great the club are going to honour us with this dinner. We didn't expect it, we're not looking for anything, but it's nice."

n The Barcelona Bears 40th anniversary dinner takes place at Glasgow's Thistle Hotel on Friday May 18, with Sir Alex Ferguson as guest speaker. Tickets are on sale priced £75+VAT from Laura Phillips on 0141 429 6769 or Laura.Phillips@scsgroup.co.uk (Mon-Fri between 9am and 5pm) or from Scott McMillan after 5pm on 07939 303 486.