McCoist plays down Old Firm hype

The Rangers manager has many things to consider as he prepares for his first Old Firm match since taking over the reins from Walter Smith, but he doesn’t plan on increasing the burden by reminding the players about something they are already well aware of.

“I have said this a hundred times before, but the boys know they have a responsibility,” said McCoist. “Everybody has a responsibility. The Albion Rovers players have got a responsibility, the East Fife players have a responsibility. There is obviously a lot more focus on the Old Firm game but the responsibility should – should – just be the same You look at some of the things that go on around the world,” he added. “That’s not shirking the issue, we’re well aware of our responsibilities. We just want to talk about the football and that’s hopefully the way it will be this weekend.”

Although tomorrow’s clash is the first time in this new campaign that the teams have clashed, it is their seventh meeting this year. Last season’s epic run of matches led to a summit meeting in Edinburgh chaired by First Minister Alex Salmond, following one particularly highly-charged Scottish Cup clash at Parkhead. McCoist was himself in the spotlight that night having become embroiled in a touchline row with opposite number Neil Lennon, after a game when Rangers had three players red-carded.

McCoist admits the players are under more scrutiny now, while he knows both he and Lennon’s behaviour in the dug-out will be closely monitored. But he insisted that this is now a new page in an ancient Old Firm narrative.

“It’s yesterday’s news,” said McCoist. “I said that at the time. We had words, big deal. And that was it. We’ve walked away from it and we had drinks after the game as we should, and that’s the way it will always be.”

Mark Hateley, McCoist’s former Ibrox team-mate, suggested the pair should bury the hatchet before the match. However, the Rangers manager won’t go out of his way to welcome Lennon to Ibrox, although he will offer him the customary post-match hospitality. “If I see him [before the game] we will shake hands and say hello,” said McCoist. “But I probably won’t see him. You tend not to see other managers before a game. But you shake hands just before the game and then I’ll see him afterwards, obviously.”

McCoist said that he was not aware if anyone from Strathclyde police will speak to the players before the game in an attempt to reduce the chance of any flare-ups, both on and off the park. “Not to my knowledge,” replied McCoist, when asked if such a pre-match visit was planned. “But if this was the case we would welcome it, no problem at all. We’ve had the police going over things on numerous occasions in the past and going over what is expected. The boys know what is expected.” McCoist has ruled out skipper Davie Weir, who continues to recover from a hamstring injury but welcomes Nikica Jelavic back to the squad from a knee injury. Full back Lee Wallace is also absent due to injury although midfielder Lee McCulloch could come back into contention. Rangers could lift themselves four points clear of Celtic with victory, something McCoist feels would be a significant achievement following the off-field financial dramas which continue to plague the club.

“With the greatest respect there is nothing I can do about tax problems,” he said. “But I can hopefully affect the performances on the park and that is where we are duty bound to work hard. The recent press in terms of the club hasn’t been all positive but one thing we can is put a smile back on the fans’ faces by getting three points.”