Rangers’ results have put Ally McCoist’s reputation at risk

I was transported back over 30 years last Wednesday night.

Looking at Ally McCoist’s demeanour as Rangers suffered an embarrassing Petrofac Cup exit at the hands of Alloa took me back to the final stages of John Greig’s managerial career at Ibrox.

I had played with John for a year, and was then in his team for his first couple of seasons as manager. He nearly won the domestic Treble in his first season, but wasn’t as successful after that.

I left Ibrox for Brighton in 1980, but returned out of the blue at the end of 1982 on loan.

It was crystal clear from the second I walked back into the home dressing-room that there were big problems.

John looked as though he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

It is always so much tougher when things aren’t going well and the club means so much to you.

The atmosphere had completely gone, and John looked as though the life had been sucked out of him.

Even his legendary status wasn’t managing to get a reaction out of the players at that time.

That scenario possibly mirrors what is happening just now with Ally McCoist.

It certainly looks as though, for everything he achieved as a player, he is struggling to get the best of out his players, as was the case with John.

I wouldn’t say bad results had an impact on John’s health from what I can remember.

It was more as though it was just getting too much for him. He didn’t really know how to turn it around.

Of course, less than 12 months after my loan spell, he eventually resigned.

But in doing so, I think he helped restore his own reputation as a legendary player, and he is still remembered more for John Greig the successful player, than John Greig the failed manager.

I wonder what fate awaits Ally McCoist?

He could save his reputation as a Rangers legend right now if he was to resign as manager this morning.

But he is risking losing the love and affection of the Light Blue legions many of whom have already washed their hands of him if he stays at the helm and fails to win promotion.

He was a massive fans’ favourite as a player, but that relationship is being damaged by the day as he struggles with the responsibilities of management.

What I wouldn’t like to see is Ally continue and fail, and then face the consequences of that.

I’d deem failure not so much being knocked out of the Petrofac Cup by Alloa as failing to win the League title.

Rangers have better players and a far stronger squad than Hearts.

The difference between the playing budgets is vast. But whenever I’ve discussed Rangers with supporters over the last couple of years, there haven’t been many occasions when they have been complimentary over the performances.

The team have won back-to-back titles but, honestly, anyone could have managed them to that.

There is, of course, the debate over whether or not the club have the necessary funds to sack McCoist. No-one knows if that is actually the case.

What I’d like to know is who would actually make the decision to remove Ally? Who is running the club as things stand?

Certainly, Ally still has in his own hands the power to avoid such a scenario. But by staying on, he runs the risk of failing to win the title and even promotion via the play-offs.

Where would his reputation be then?