McCoist says legend Jardine has spirit for cancer battle

Published on 23/11/2012 00:00

Ally McCoist believes Sandy Jardine has the fighting spirit needed for his battle against cancer.

Rangers announced at the weekend that the Ibrox legend, who played made more than 500 games for Rangers as a 
player between 1965 and 1982 and still works for the club is being treated for the illness.

And manager McCoist told Rangers’ website: “Sandy has been an enormous part of this club and the club has been an enormous part of Sandy’s life for 40-odd years. It was obviously a shock to us all. It was an even bigger shock for him but, outwardly, he is handling it as well as you would expect him to.

“He is a fine, fine man, a wonderful individual and he will be fine because he is a very fit man and has a tremendous spirit and desire to do well in whatever he does. I honestly believe that these things are a necessity when you go through a trauma and Sandy will be, in my opinion, as well equipped as anybody to handle the situation.”

McCoist also credited Jardine, 63, as having had a major role during a turbulent period, which saw Rangers go into administration before being consigned to liquidation in the summer. He added: “He’s a tremendous source of help. He’s been over the course before and has a wealth of experience of Scottish football and of Rangers.

“He’s here for everybody at the club, and particularly in the tough period that we have had over the last six months or so.

“Sandy has been an absolute tower of strength for me when the club was going through the administration period. He’s been that way for everybody and is sadly missed around the place. We look forward to the day he walks back through the doors of Murray Park and Ibrox.”