Ally McCoist and Rangers face testing times

Speaking on Friday, McCoist was clearly perturbed by Craig Whyte’s claim that he was involved with Green in a company set up to run Rangers.

Equally troubling for the Ibrox manager is Green’s role in the removal of Neil Murray as the club’s chief scout and what it means for Rangers’ player recruitment plans.

McCoist said on Friday that he will tolerate no interference in his signings. “I won’t be the manager if they’re not my players,” was the gist of his argument.

Green has a background in player agency. He was chairman of Proactive Sports, a Cheshire-based firm whose star agent was Paul Stretford. The agency had a number of leading players on its books, including Andy Cole, Stan Collymore and Wayne Rooney.

Green, who left Proactive in 2003, used the services of Stretford during his takeover over Rangers last summer. Quite what his role was is unclear, but Stretford is a controversial figure.

In 2008 he was banned by the Football Association for 18 months (half of which was suspended) for a number of misconduct charges relating to how he acquired the right to represent Rooney six years earlier. Stretford described the verdict as “a travesty” and appealled. He took the case to arbitration before accepting the nine-month ban in 2009.

These are difficult days for McCoist. Murray was an ally of his and the Rangers manager insists he will continue to use his former team-mate as a sounding board. Murray, we are told, has agreed to act as a consultant.

“I have got absolutely no problem phoning Neil Murray up,” McCoist said. “Neil worked totally unselfishly for the club and myself and I’ve got a list of players up in my office that’s enough to fill about six teams. So I will certainly not be scared of picking up the phone to Neil and asking him his advice on a player.”

One of the players on McCoist’s list is thought to be the Honduras international Arnold Peralta who claims he is 90 per cent certain to sign for the Ibrox club.

Peralta plays for homeland club Deportivo Vida, who are second bottom of the Honduran Premier League. His contract expires later this month and he would be available for free.

McCoist and assistant Kenny McDowall took in Honduras’ World Cup clash in Panama last week.

And Peralta revealed he had talks with Rangers, which could lead to him moving to Scotland once Rangers’ transfer embargo is lifted.

Peralta said: “I have a 90 per cent chance of joining Rangers.” This is an important opportunity to secure my future. It isn’t completely definite, but it is all nearly completed.”

Rangers play Queen’s Park at Hampden today and with the Third Division championship wrapped up McCoist hopes his players can express themselves.

“I’m really hoping, now that we have won the title, a little bit of pressure might have been lifted off some of the younger boys,” said the Ibrox manager.