Rangers chairman on horns of a dilemma after latest setback

Football Writer

Monday 8 October 2012

CHARLES GREEN must have known there would be a number of difficult scenarios for him to deal with when he became the owner of Rangers.

Ally McCoist has come under fire after Rangers lost to Stirling Albion on Saturday. Picture: PA

Custom byline text:

Graeme Macpherson

How would be received by the supporters so soon after the damning revelations regarding his predecessor Craig Whyte? What would happen if he couldn't get the club out of administration via a company voluntary arrangement (CVA)? Would the newco be allowed into the Clydesdale Bank Premier League? Would there be sufficient interest in his plans to float the club on the stock market? Could he definitely make a return on his money?

All these things and more must have passed through his mind as he weighed up his bid for the club, and again once he had gained control. It has been a tumultuous period – and Green, in his own unique way, has rarely shied away from addressing a problem – and there will be plenty more hurdles for him to overcome in the weeks and months ahead. He could surely not, however, have imagined that so early in his tenure he may need to have a think about the man managing his club, but it may soon become the elephant in the room that Green cannot ignore. How he handles Ally McCoist will shape the entirety of his Rangers stewardship, whether he remains as chief executive for 12 months or 12 years. McCoist is a figure like no other in Ibrox history; the fan who graduated from the terraces to become the club's greatest goalscorer, an icon, a hero to thousands. His stoicism as Rangers slipped deeper and deeper into the financial mire at the start of the year only further enhanced his currency. It seemed that McCoist was almost untouchable. In recent weeks, however, it has been possible to detect the first murmurs of discontent among a section of the Rangers support as the team's results, and performances, fail to live up to expectations. The agitation grew noticeably louder following Saturday's defeat by Stirling Albion, a team who had lost their five previous league matches and whose manager missed the game because he was getting married. The picture that is emerging is of a divided support. In one corner, there are those who believe McCoist's background should make him immune from criticism, in the other those who argue that there is a need to separate the manager from the legend. In this era of social networking and rolling 24-hour news, the rush to judge can often leave those pointing the finger looking foolish in retrospect. Eight days ago in the Ryder Cup, Jose Maria Olazabal was portrayed as a failure on the Sunday morning and a genius by sunset, while this time last year there was a growing clamour for Neil Lennon to be sacked. And how Celtic, in hindsight, would have regretted that decision. Green, then, will likely be in no rush to terminate McCoist's contract after a first league defeat in seven matches, but will also undoubtedly be aware there is a hint of dissent in the air. It is often difficult to figure out Green, given his predilection for obfuscation, but if one thing can be said with any certainty about the Yorkshireman it is that he forever knows which way the wind is blowing. Green, in short, is a people pleaser. He has gone from Ibrox pariah to a man sought out by autograph hunters and back-slappers by doing and saying what the fans want to see and hear. He has aimed verbal potshots at the Scottish Football Association and Scottish Premier League, vowed to defend to the hilt the club's right to hold on to its titles in the face of an investigation, and made all the right noises about wreaking vengeance on the other clubs many Rangers fans blame for their current plight. It has been a quite remarkable PR coup. McCoist, however, presents him with a real problem. If the team continue to struggle, and results away from home do not improve, then the calls from fans for the manager to go will only grow louder. Green has won over previously sceptical supporters by complying with their demands and, given the choice of losing a manager or alienating an unhappy support, may elect to plump for the former, no matter how difficult a decision that may be. Green, after all, is only in this to see a return on his investment, something that is unlikely to happen with a struggling team. Sacking McCoist after just a few months, however, would make him extremely unpopular with those who believe a manager with such a deep connection to the club should be given extra time to turn things around. It could reawaken sustained opposition to his stewardship and take him back to square one in terms of trying to win over the doubters. All in all, it is shaping up to be quite the dilemma with which Green has to deal. He could surely not have imagined that a few short months ago.

Contextual targeting label:

Sport

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.

Rangers chairman on horns of a dilemma after latest setback

Commenting & Moderation

MOST READ

SPONSORED LINKS

MOST COMMENTED