Ally McCoist hopes pre-season will bring rewards

RANGERS manager Ally McCoist believes his squad’s pre-season preparations are incomparable to last year.

Ally McCoist cast an eye over pre-season training. Picture: SNS

And, while he is loath to make predictions about how that will affect their form when the campaign starts, he has been encouraged by all ­facets of their approach.

Rangers secured their third friendly win this summer when they beat Bristol City thanks to Lewis MacLeod’s solitary goal on Saturday, with most of their seven summer signings taking part before the squad flew to Germany for a training camp.

Last year McCoist’s men were hampered by a signing embargo and an inability to play official friendlies before provisionally securing Scottish Football ­Association membership less than 48 hours before facing Brechin in their domestic opener.

McCoist, whose side were criticised for their fitness levels on their way to the Third Division title, told the club’s website: “Last year everyone was just thrown in together with no real organisation, no games and certainly not the training schedule we’d have wanted for them. This time it is very different and everyone is getting to know each other.

“I’m not going to tempt fate in terms of results but, looking at our preparations, it’s like night and day between last summer and now. We’re miles ahead of where we were going into the season last July and you can see that. Our fitness levels are far greater and I’m really pleased with how things are going.”

McCoist is hoping to tie up a deal for trialist Bilel Mohsni and is also looking to secure Bosnia centre-back Boris Pandza.