Kenny Miller: Ally McCoist still right for Rangers

By MOIRA GORDON
Published on 10/02/2013 02:35

VALENTINE’S Day represents the first anniversary of Rangers entering administration and it seems that the unconditional love which was once bestowed on manager Ally McCoist, pictured below, is beginning to wane.

But, while others are debating whether he the right man for the job, annoyed by the poor showing against Dundee United in last weekend’s acrimonious Scottish Cup tie, Kenny Miller says the supporters should be glad that he’s the man at the helm.

“Of course he is the right man for the job,” states the Scotland and former Rangers striker. “You can only take your hat off to him for all he has had to deal within the past 18-19 months. That would be enough to end any manager to be honest with you, but he has dealt with it well and the club now realise they are where they are, in the Third Division, and they have come to terms with it. I think last weekend was a bit of a disappointing result but there’s no doubting Coisty and the lads will be behind him. Obviously I was in there training for a couple of months and I don’t think there’s any question that they are right behind him.”

Having left Rangers before the financial issues surfaced, Miller watched from a distance as the club was placed into administration on 14 February last year and said he was gutted to see the problems ultimately leave the club facing a chase up through the Scottish leagues .

“Everybody that has been involved with the club was devastated. You hear foreign lads who have been at the club speaking so highly of people involved at the club and it’s not just Coisty and the management team and the players, you think of all the people you have met during your time there. But they are coming through it now and hopefully they will come back stronger and in a few years they will be back in the SPL.”

Currently signed to Major League Soccer side Vancouver Whitecaps, Miller, pictured above, spent the close season training with Rangers and said there was no doom and gloom. “It was pretty much what I expected it to be. It was always enjoyable going in to train there and the boys were working hard, treating each game like it was the SPL. It was pretty much the same as when I was there as a player.”

The traits which stood McCoist in good stead throughout his playing career were still evident, says Miller. “He’s a very good people person, he gives everybody respect and he treats them well – and that’s something Walter did very well and he seemed to get the best out the players – and Coisty is like that as well and, first and foremost, he’s a Rangers man and he’s a winner.

“You don’t have the career he had at Rangers, score the goals, win the trophies, without being a winner and he has the club’s best interests at heart and ultimately he wants the best for the players and the club and wants to win for himself as well.

“It’s a tough time, no doubt about that, but I think he has done a great job with 
everything that everyone at the club has been through, not just him but all the staff at the club.”