Ally McCoist admits summer signing spree unintentionally increased Ibrox finance

[Bothwellbear 1,392]

Rangers boss Ally McCoist admits summer signing spree unintentionally increased Ibrox finance fears

19 Jan 2014 08:59

RANGERS boss Ally McCoist splashed the cash during the summer but insists he was told the club could afford to sign the new players.

Rangers manager Ally McCoist at training

Ross Brownlee/SNS Group

ALLY MCCOIST spent his budget like a sailor on shore leave last summer – but still insists he had no clue he was putting more holes in a sinking ship.

The Rangers boss has endured a sobering week of talks with chief executive Graham Wallace as the full extent of the club’s financial plight hits home.

Wallace asked McCoist’s players to consider a 15 per cent pay cut on Thursday, a proposal they rejected.

But the Ibrox gaffer believed in his heart of hearts that – by his back-of-a-fag-packet calculations – the club could and should have been able to afford the new faces he brought in back in the summer.

And on one hand, he’s defiant.

His costs are less than 30 per cent of the turnover and every contract he persuaded a player to sign was approved by his board. What’s a manager supposed to do?

On the other, though, he’s contrite enough to admit he was wrong.

Nine signings, more than £1.5million a year in wages, for a club losing a million pounds a month was never going to have a happy ending.

But when asked if it was suspicious at the time, McCoist shrugged: “Not really, not being an accountant.

“Maybe I had it totally wrong but with the player budget coming down, I was looking at the season tickets, working out the costs – I’m doing it on the back of a fag packet obviously – and thinking, ‘It kind of fits.’

“We also had a lot of money in from an IPO as well as having had two amounts of season ticket money in – but I was obviously wrong.

“Did someone tell me I had the financial where-with-all to sign players? Absolutely. I just went about my business.

“I was wanting to bolster the squad and that’s what I did. No one said it was a

problem. No one said stop.”

McCoist could be forgiven for withholding his trust and his endorsement from current Rangers CEO Wallace, having been sold pups by the previous two, Charles Green and Craig Mather.

However, he insists it would be counter productive to start tripping over a petted lip at this stage. McCoist said: “I’m not a cynical guy. You could depress yourself all day with it but you can’t. You have to try to be positive and move with the flow.

“Would I be within my rights to withhold my trust? Possibly – but I don’t think that would do us any good.

“I have to do my best to forge a healthy working relationship with the chief executive. It has to be in the best interests of the club and everyone within it.

“And that’s what we’re both doing. Everything Graham has said to me, I believe absolutely to be the truth. I think he will continue to be honest with me and tell me things I might not like to hear.”

Asked if he regretted endorsing Green, he said: “A lot of things go through my head when I think about Charles.

“He came in and was the first potential ally I had, so I had to. I don’t think I was in a position to do anything other than what I thought was best for everybody and at that time there was nowhere else to turn.”

Over the past two summers, McCoist’s endorsement of successive regimes has broken the stand-off between club and fans over buying season tickets.

But he admitted: “That endorsement will only continue to hold weight if it’s the right thing I’m telling them.

“Graham has made me aware of the severity of the situation and I believe he’ll continue to be honest and up front.”

The club’s three main fan organisations have already threatened a withdrawal of their financial support if they don’t fancy the road taken by a board who have yet to earn their trust.

And McCoist understands their uncertainty over season ticket renewals.

But he reckons they have more to worry about in the short term.

He said: “Absolutely, I can understand. There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge before then – season tickets are a long way off renewals.

“At the end of the day the fans will make their own decision on what they’re seeing.

“There’s a lot of work to be done by everyone before we can start thinking about season tickets again.”

What that work is, however, is still open to conjecture.

On at least half a dozen occasions, asked about financial decisions, McCoist resorted to “You’d have to ask Graham that” and variations on that theme.

And the Rangers boss admits there are times when it comes to the running of the club’s finances that ignorance is bliss.

Or at least offers plausible deniability.

Asked if he should be at the heart of board meetings, considering he’s offering career-defining promises to players which other people aren’t keeping on his behalf, he said: “I wasn’t at the last board meeting but I’ve been told I’ll be invited to the next one to discuss football matters.”

So he doesn’t get to hear the important stuff? “I’m not a board member,” he said.

Surely he’d like to hear it, though?

“I’d need to think about it,” McCoist said: “If it benefited my relationship with the players and the staff, then yes. But in the current climate sometimes some of the stuff I don’t know suits me as well.”

[Guardian 4,281]

He may not be an accountant but he is meant to be a manager.

He didn't half spend the cash on diddies.

[Getstiffed 8,863]

He may not be an accountant but he is meant to be a manager.

He didn't half spend the cash on diddies.

As you've said in another thread, whats done is done.

Lets get rid of the players he didn't need and free up the cash for players he may need next season or the one after.

[skullery 240]

Some will deflect the problem on to Ally here , but the simple fact is the board gave a budget , and set the bar with SPL players .

The board are in control of finances and are responsible for the financial well being of the club .... no deflection or spin will change these facts ..that is all

[MayboleLoyal_atb 3,772]

As you've said in another thread, whats done is done.

Lets get rid of the players he didn't need and free up the cash for players he may need next season or the one after.

We will have bother trying to get rid of some of them

[BlueSuedeSambas 54,641]

You can't question what he spent the moment on, but if he was told the money was there to spend then there is little fault on his part in that regard.

[thehost 11,061]

Some will deflect the problem on to Ally here , but the simple fact is the board gave a budget , and set the bar with SPL players .

The board are in control of finances and are responsible for the financial well being of the club .... no deflection or spin will change these facts ..that is all

The board have to contend with you, and your pals. Any time they have put pressure on ally your lot have your bedsheets out.

[Allanger 625]

Ally just digs himself deeper with every interview.

[skullery 240]

The board have to contend with you, and your pals. Any time they have put pressure on ally your lot have your bedsheets out.

your relentless attacks on Ally are bordering on obsession , and i fear for your mental well being , is there someone there with you i can speak to ...wife carer or nurse even ?

[grfc1872 56]

we will get rid of them

don't old your breath about new signings we cant afford them

[Bothwellbear 1,392]

your relentless attacks on Ally are bordering on obsession , and i fear for your mental well being , is there someone there with you i can speak to ...wife carer or nurse even ?

Probably Bawsburst. Peas in a pod.

[Bobby Hume 13,507]

This is press manipulation, and all the questions being asked are designed to make our whole organisation look like we don't know our arse from our elbow. Ally is looking like a complete novice and definately not media savvy.

These agenda driven interviews have got to be curtailed forthwith by the board as they do us no favours.

Our manager must be advised to answer only football related topics, and all board related questions, must not be commented on.

Even a blind man can see that the press are up to no good, and are now making concerted efforts to undermine our club,

[sassaaaa 11,406]

This is press manipulation, and all the questions being asked are designed to make our whole organisation look like we don't know our arse from our elbow. Ally is looking like a complete novice and definately not media savvy.

These agenda driven interviews have got to be curtailed forthwith by the board as they do us no favours.

Our manager must be advised to answer only football related topics, and all board related questions, must not be commented on.

Even a blind man can see that the press are up to no good, and are now making concerted effort to undermine our club,

Its designed to take all the corruption stories from the other side away from the front pages and McCoist is helping them do that .........

[Moody Blue 9,564]

He's not half wasted a lot of money across the two years in absolute crap that should've been nowhere near our club. I can't remember the last time we had a decent sell on value from someone leaving the club, most are having to be paid off!

In saying that, after the IPO we should've had enough in the bank to cover bringing in some players and having wages operate at c. 30% of turnover. The board have as much to explain about that as McCoist. Unfortunately, and I've said it on many occasions, we're a complete and utter shambles from top to bottom and I just wish all the talk would end and let Wallace get on with sorting the mess out.

[Bertent 2,081]

Another day another its no ma fault. Leadership in action.

[skullery 240]

He's not half wasted a lot of money across the two years in absolute crap that should've been nowhere near our club. I can't remember the last time we had a decent sell on value from someone leaving the club, most are having to be paid off!

In saying that, after the IPO we should've had enough in the bank to cover bringing in some players and having wages operate at c. 30% of turnover. The board have as much to explain about that as McCoist. Unfortunately, and I've said it on many occasions, we're a complete and utter shambles from top to bottom and I just wish all the talk would end and let Wallace get on with sorting the mess out.

thats a fair post mate

of course Ally has to take some responsibility in the spending , and his bosses should have brought him to task over such signings .

and this where the board have to take responsibility for our financial woes

[SeparateEntityMyArse 54,364]

Ally is IMO not a very good manager. Some support him still, largely because he is a Rangers legend, on the inside, looking after our interests.

Only problem is that now its evident he hasn't a clue what is or has been going on financially. Or wants to know. He is quite happy to do fag box maths and keep spending. On duds at that.

He is setting himself up for at worst division at best animosity with the board by leaving subs spaces empty whilst making comments about too small a squad

, and apparently refusing to engage in listing those players who should go or stay.

The football on offer for the salaries paid and facilities we have.......... Shambolic.

Never good enough now. How would he be managing a hugely weakened squad ( compared to present squad) against full time players and experienced managers. Because that is the outlook.

Not for me. Enough is enough.

[disgruntled_bear 157]

Ally has to take some responsibility. This constantly vibe of it's not my fault is cowardly.

He must have realized where we are and the amounts of money we were spending would catch up with us. No excuses.

[TheLawMan 6,240]

He is beginning to erode my feelings for him as a player now.

Ive never thought he would be a good manager. He isnt a good manager. He is getting worse as a person as well.

He sooked up to Whyte....then slated him. He sooked up to Green.....then slated him.

I wish he actually would "walk away".

[Malvern 11,329]

Aye Ally, you were told you could have money for players wages, so fair enough we will accept that one.

Does't account for the gash play on the park or not being able to play in high wind now does it?

Stick to your job and leave the moeny talk to those people who are meant to be doing it. You concentrate on wee things like tactics, formation, subs and backroom staff to progress players so we do not need to buy more to cover the gaping holes in our game.

[sassaaaa 11,406]

We should give McCoist the Durrant/McDowell job ............

[will_1974 204]

The signings of foster and smith, injury prone players who between them have appeared 18 times this season was pointless. We are stuck with these guys for another season after this one ends. Peralta may come good and deserves more time. Clark Daly Law Bell Mohsni are all good players.

[legalbeagle 3,734]

The board have to contend with you, and your pals. Any time they have put pressure on ally your lot have your bedsheets out.

If they cave to that then they really aren't fit to do their jobs are they?

[TheLawMan 6,240]

We should give McCoist the Durrant/McDowell job ............

Ive always said that was his sweet spot and it was a mistake stepping him up. I wouldnt give him it now though.

[Bobby Hume 13,507]

Its designed to take all the corruption stories from the other side away from the front pages and McCoist is helping them do that .........

Yes you are dead right about that mate, and the more they can stir up fabricated nonsense about our club,the less notice is being paid to that mob's indiscretions, very deliberate i would say, and they are fooling no one.