How many Rangers players will be left to start pre-season training?

Chief football writer

Monday 25 June 2012

THERE was a story recently about Ally McCoist being a past victim of phone-hacking.

Custom byline text:

Michael Grant

Even the most cold-hearted news reporter would have balked at listening in on a couple of the calls he received yesterday morning. If there has been one defining characteristic about the Rangers players over the past two or three seasons it has been the unity and camaraderie of a familiar and settled group of players. Now, his boys are starting to phone McCoist and tell him that they're off. Steven Naismith and Steven Whittaker were the first to nervously get in touch to break the news. The calls were awkward and horrible for all concerned, but had to be made. How many more will there be?

The dynamic between McCoist and his players has become confusing and compelling. On Saturday, he released a statement which surprised many by the force and language used about (unnamed) members of his squad. He had shown them respect and he expected to be shown it in return, he said. Under the newco "players would be playing for the same club – Rangers – in front of the same fans," he said. "I don't want Rangers fans to be reading how devastated players are about having to go. The fans deserve better than that. They are not daft." Players who announce they're leaving "should not expect sympathy from Rangers supporters if they use the transfer of contracts as an excuse".That was strong from McCoist. It even sounded like a challenge intended to unnerve players who might be unsure about whether they had the guts to tell fans they were off. McCoist can quickly mobilise the Rangers support against any individual and if he thinks he has got a dressing room full of opportunists, kissing the badge while simultaneously telling their agents to get them the hell out of there, he has the power to turn public opinion against them. No player can win a public relations contest with McCoist. Unless Naismith and Whittaker were telling fibs yesterday though – and neither of them looked in the mood for that – their calls were quiet, respectful and, well, sad. Issuing a sulphuric statement was one thing, but the manager's tone was entirely different when very personal calls were being made by players he has trusted and respected for years.McCoist had wanted transparency and honesty and he got it. Naismith and Whittaker told him they don't fancy playing in the First (let alone Third) Division next season, as seems the newco Rangers' inevitable fate.No matter how much that disappointed or hurt him, how could he do anything but understand? It was only a matter of days ago that McCoist himself was on the brink of resigning when he believed there had been a plot to replace him as manager. He is the last person who could plausibly try to convince his players that they owe it to Charles Green's newco to dig in for the long haul.Instead – according to Naismith and Whittaker themselves – he took their news on the chin, appreciating that they told him first before making it known to the media a few hours later. "The first person I spoke to was the manager," said Naismith. "That wasn't down to his statement on Saturday: it was always my intention. I have so much respect for Ally McCoist. We had a pleasant chat and he could understand my point of view."He deserves to know the reasons why I'm doing this and he deserves to hear it from me. Obviously, it put him in an awkward position. The manager has a job to do. He wants to know who will and won't be there and, all along, I intended to let him know first if I decided that I was going to leave."Similarly, Whittaker had "a nice conversation" with McCoist. "It was fine. He understood. He has been in the game long enough to know the situation we are in. He praised the time I was at the club and that was great."All of this will be heartbreaking for McCoist, though, and it erodes the ties that bind him to Green's Rangers. He is in a helpless position. There is only going to be one thought going through his mind if his mobile rings and he sees "Greegsy", "Steven" or "Boca" flashing on screen: "him as well?" Last week, one of those who will definitely stay no matter what, Lee McCulloch, said McCoist had been hard to contact during his holiday. "I don't really blame the manager for having his phone off. He's probably thrown the phone away by now the amount of people trying to get hold of him."Chucking away the phone may feel tempting, but one way or another Steven Davis, Allan McGregor, Kyle Lafferty, Lee Wallace, Carlos Bocanegra or anyone else who wants out will get the message across. Pre-season training starts at Murray Park on Thursday and it is hard to believe there will not be others who confirm they will not be turning up and regard themselves as free agents.Doubters wonder if Green will really mourn yesterday's removal of £40,000 from the weekly wage bill. After all, every departing "star" will significantly cut his costs ahead of a probable drop into the SFL.They are not numbers on a balance sheet to McCoist, though. They are pals and favoured sons. "His" players. Every one that leaves makes everything tougher. What will really hurt him is sensing that yesterday's calls are not likely to be the last.

Contextual targeting label:

Business

Commenting & Moderation

We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.

Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.

How many Rangers players will be left to start pre-season training?

Commenting & Moderation

MOST READ

SPONSORED LINKS

MOST COMMENTED