McCoist aims for last laugh over Green

Ally McCoist has hit-back at former Rangers Chief Executive Charles Green ahead of today’s Ramsdens Cup Final.

The controversial businessman heaped huge pressure on the Ibrox boss at the start of the season when he demanded he won a cup competition.

That communication came just hours before Rangers were eliminated from the League Cup at the hands of Forfar.

It sparked a furious war of words between the two before Green was eventually forced out of the club.

McCoist will actually deliver what Green demanded if his side defeat Raith Rovers at Easter Road today.

They then face the chance of keeping their hopes of winning the Scottish Cup alive, and delivering an unlikely Treble, when they face Dundee United in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Ibrox on Saturday.

When asked if Green’s August statement remains an irritation, McCoist said: “The comment or the man?

“I don’t really take anything Charles says now with anything other than a pinch of salt. I thought that comment at that particular time was particularly unhelpful. He probably had his own reasons for saying it.

“I just think the club is in a better place than it has been for a couple of years.

“He might claim credit for any cup success, in fact I think he will.

“He won’t be receiving any from me, however. I think the credit will go to the boys.

“But I hope he does turn up at Easter Road. I’m sure there will be one or two looking forward to seeing him!”

The timing of Green’s comments over the demand for cup success couldn’t have come at a worse time for McCoist as he prepared to face Forfar without the luxury of playing any of his summer signings. The fact Rangers then lost the match 2-1 increased pressure on the manager.

But he believes Green had his own reasons for being as outspoken as he was.

Choosing his words, McCoist said: “I think he was what’s the best way to describe it I’m not sure he was the biggest fan of the staff here. But you’d have to ask him about that.

“He’s over in France now riding his horses, or whatever he is doing.

“It didn’t make it any more difficult than it was at the time because it was an extremely difficult time. For that particular game, we knew it was going to be one of our toughest of the season because we couldn’t play any of our new signings due to the transfer embargo.

“In the previous game, we could use two, and we played Jon Daly and Nicky Law. We even looked a better side for having those two in it. But for the Forfar tie, we just went right back to last season’s team and we always knew it was going to be difficult.”

McCoist has since managed to win the League One title, and admits the next week will season-defining.

He said: “It’s a massive week for us, no doubt about it. We are desperate to win the Ramsdens Cup, and then we’ve got a huge game against a very good Dundee United side.”