Buck stops with me as manager, says McCoist

Ally McCoist admits the buck stops with him as Rangers aim for a timely return to winning ways against rivals Celtic in this weekend’s Old Firm derby.

Celtic could clinch the SPL title at Ibrox on Sunday depending on Motherwell’s result 24 hours earlier, while Rangers are aiming to avoid a fourth consecutive home defeat for the first time in their history.

And McCoist is well aware that he must shoulder the responsibility of the outcome of matches, despite admitting his frustration at being unable to have a major influence on the action on the park.

Asked about the differences between being a player and a manager, Rangers’ record goalscorer said: “The obvious one would be that the buck stops with you.

“When you’re manager there’s nothing you can do really when the players cross over the white line. You can make tactical changes and things like that but it’s out of your hands. The players are in total control of the game so you have to accept that. I won’t lie to you – I found it difficult to accept early on.

“You have to appreciate the players have got a job to do and you send them out to do that. That’s probably the hardest part.

“With the result, the onus is on you as manager whether you win, lose or draw.”

Being plunged into administration last month – and immediately docked ten points by the SPL as a result – effectively ended Rangers’ hopes of retaining the championship. But, as far as McCoist is concerned, pride is always at stake in the famous fixture.

He said: “It’s everything, really. It’s bragging rights until you play each other again. It’s putting one over on your biggest rivals. It’s all that. I’ve got mates who are Celtic supporters as well and I’ve been at both ends. You can give them a bit of stick and obviously when things don’t go your way, you get a bit back. To supporters it means absolutely everything.

“These are the biggest days in the footballing calendar and there’s nothing better than putting one over on your biggest rivals.”

Honours are even between Rangers and Celtic in derby clashes so far this season. McCoist drew first blood with an emphatic 4-2 win at Ibrox in September, before Neil Lennon’s men hit back with a 1-0 victory at Celtic Park in December.

The Rangers manager told BBC Alba: “In the first one, I thought we played arguably some of our best football of the whole season and we ran out comfortable winners. In the game at Celtic Park, I didn’t think there was an awful lot between the teams.

“We didn’t get the break in the first half and then we lost the goal when we switched off at a corner. I’ve enjoyed them both – but obviously I enjoyed the first one a little bit more.”