Ally McCoist admits he is feeling as comfortable as he has ever been as Rangers manager. And the secret of his contentment comes from finally working with a man who tells the truth.
McCoist believes Chief Executive Graham Wallace is someone he can trust. He knows Wallace may have to tell him some painful news as he undertakes a three-month review of the Ibrox finances. But the Light Blues boss would rather have that than fanciful promises of cash for new players.
After his side had reached the Scottish Cup quarter-finals with a comfortable 4-0 win over Dunfermline, McCoist said: “I’m scared to open my mouth! But I think you can see I feel comfier in the position of manager with the people now around us.
“It’s probably as comfortable as I’ve ever been as manager. That said, I don’t want to tempt fate.
“What I’m trying to say is that I’m actively enjoying the relationship I have with the Chief Executive at this time. We’re going to games together, and we talk two or three times on the phone every day.
“In fact, we meet three or four times a week.
“He’s actually said he believes the most-important relationship at the club is between the Chief Executive and the manager. I also believe that. After what’s happened over the past couple of years, I’m not going to get carried away, but I’m very, very happy with the way things are going.
“I don’t have any doubt that Graham is telling me the truth. There was always a doubt about the £20-million I was supposed to be getting for players from Craig Whyte. And there was always a question mark about the £10, £15 or £20-million from Charles Green.”
Wallace arrived at Ibrox in November, having previously spent four years as Chief Operating Officer with Manchester City. McCoist clearly finds the straight-talking 52-year-old from Dumfries a refreshing change, and he is already looking ahead to reshaping his squad for next season. Talks about outgoings appear to be the immediate priority.
He went on: “We’ve looked at squads and had lengthy discussions about the squad size, but there’s been nothing concrete about bringing players in.
“We’ve a few players who are out of contract, and that will be up for debate. We’ve started early discussions about that. I’m not anticipating anything other than I’ll be given a budget to work with. I’m very hopeful that the budget will be a reasonable percentage of the turnover.
“That’s all I can ask for. Graham hasn’t indicated in any way that there will be more players or less players, or that certain players will have to go. So it would be wrong to start assuming things.”
McCoist is currently in optimistic mood, but it is only three weeks since his players rejected the proposal of a 15% pay cut. He knows other money-saving ideas are bound to follow, but he hopes the days of crazy money vanishing from the coffers at Ibrox are at an end.
He said: “I understand decisions will be made with a view to the club moving on financially. I’ll react to that as well as it happens.
“I would seriously hope, though, there won’t be more fluctuation between now and the summer.”
Enjoy the convenience of having The Sunday Post delivered as a digital ePaper straight to your smartphone, tablet or computer.
Subscribe for only £5.49 a month and enjoy all the benefits of the printed paper as a digital replica.
Subscribe