Alistair, they have changed their tune ?

[bawsburst 1,381]

Ally McCoist says those who previously said 'We don't need Rangers in top flight' have changed their tune

• Nov 01, 2014 07:27
  
• By Colin Duncan
  

WITH dwindling crowds at Parkhead and Ibrox the Gers boss believes people now accept Scottish football needs the Old Firm matches to spark our game back to life.

Ally McCoist revelled in Old Firm games as a player

THERE were only 16,000 at Parkhead for Celtic’s midweek League Cup quarter-final win over Partick Thistle.

And 3000 less watched Rangers beat St Johnstone 24 hours earlier.

However, if the Old Firm are paired with each other in the semi-final Ally McCoist reckons you could fill the Maracana.

Such is the desire for the bitter rivals to clash for the first time since April 2012, the Ibrox boss believes the World Cup Final venue, which holds just under 80,000, would struggle to cope with the demand.

The draw takes place this afternoon at five o’clock and after three seasons without one of the biggest fixtures in world football McCoist is bracing himself for its possible return.

He said: “The irony is not lost on me. You had 16,000 at the Celtic game on Wednesday and you had 13,000 at our game on Tuesday night.

“But if Rangers play Celtic in the semi-final or the Final you could play the game at the Maracana.

“In terms of the greater good of Scottish football it would be a good thing.

“Everybody would look forward to the game. I’ve missed them and so has Scottish football.

“Contrary to what one or two people might have said at the time, it’s still one of the biggest club matches in the world.

“You can talk about differences of quality, absolutely. But in terms of atmosphere it is up there with anything.”

Ally McCoist believes common sense is now breaking out about Rangers' place in our game

There is almost an air of desperation from supporters, sponsors and TV executives to see the Glasgow giants reunited.

According to McCoist, it is an indication of how wrong the rest of Scottish football were to condemn Rangers to life in the old Third Division when Craig Whyte tipped them over the edge.

The Gers manager said: “I can understand the interest in this game.

“Gone are the days of ‘We don’t need Rangers in the top flight.’

“Sadly, because it’s too late, there is now a little bit of common sense being shown.

“It’s clear we DO need Rangers, Hearts and Hibs in the top flight.

“Gordon Strachan is doing a fantastic job for the national team but in the best interest of Scottish football we need our big clubs in the top flight.

“With Rangers being in the lower divisions there was clearly going to be no scope for an Old Firm game unless we drew each other in the Cup.

“The majority of people, if we do draw each other, can actively look forward to an Old Firm game and I more than anyone can appreciate that.

“I have great pals who are Celtic supporters as well. I’ve had boys coming up to me in the street and they are dying for the game to come back.

“There are Celtic supporters and Rangers supporters who miss the intensity and excitement of that Old Firm game and the chase for the title.”

Asked if those responsible for vetoing a reborn Rangers being parachuted back into the top flight now regret their stance McCoist said: “Knowing the pigheadedness of some of the people involved, no they won’t.

“But let’s be honest, was it for the greater good of Scottish football? Of course it wasn’t.

“However, we are where we are and things have happened. There is no use in looking back the way because we can’t change anything.”

SNS Group/Sammy Turner Kenny Miller (left) challenges St Johnstone's Chris Millar but just 13,000 were at Ibrox in midweek

Despite appearing to claim he wanted to avoid Celtic in the wake of Tuesday’s victory over St Johnstone McCoist was at pains to clarify his stance on the possibility of an Old Firm showdown at Hampden next year during yesterday’s press conference.

That might have been the case in each of the previous two seasons but he now feels his side are ready to tackle the biggest of

challenges.

He said: “I need to explain myself because there have been one or two things said.

“I am certainly not running scared or hiding behind the couch.

“I thought it was common sense what I was trying to say and I stand by that.

“Everyone can see from the bookies because Celtic are 4-5 favourites and everybody else in the competition is 9-2.

“Because the bookies are rarely wrong, it was common sense that you’d like a shot at one of the teams at 9-2 in terms of enhancing your chances of making the Final.

“There is no ‘I want to avoid Celtic at all costs.’ I didn’t miss them two years ago because I didn’t fancy playing Celtic or indeed any real top-flight club.

“Last year we were better and competed well against Dundee United.”

As he geared up for today’s Scottish Cup third-round clash at Dumbarton McCoist revealed he has yet to hold talks with new Ibrox powerbroker Mike Ashley or his right-hand man Derek Lambias.

He added: “I’ll make myself available to any board member or anyone in charge of operations. I spoke to the chairman on the phone and he was just keeping me up to speed about the board.”

[themoodybloo 77]

"Reborn" Rangers. Would have terminated the interview at that point

[weshallnotbemoved! 714]

Bookies rarely wrong? Does that mean that Hearts are going to win the league?

[bawsburst 1,381]

One of Alistair's better interviews, we do not know that the word reborn was put to Alistair although the hack uses it, and the bookies are more often right than wrong otherwise they wouldn't be in business, he did not say they are never wrong.

[The Monk 3,207]

That top Ally's wearing looks pretty smart, might look for it on the megastore website