Healy believes Rangers ‘family’ will stick together

DAVID Healy is confident Rangers can come through one of the most testing periods in the club’s history thanks to the backing of their supporters.

A crowd of 50,268 – their biggest home attendance of the season – packed into Ibrox last Saturday for the Scottish champions’ first match since being plunged into administration.

Events on the park failed to match the atmosphere generated in the stands as Ally McCoist’s men slumped to a 1-0 loss to Kilmarnock four days after the administrators were called in. Healy was disappointed not to be able to deliver the victory the fans desperately wanted to see but the striker believes the occasion will be remembered for the show of unity at the bleakest of times for the Glasgow giants.

He said: “We didn’t get the result we wanted on Saturday but what was shown was that everyone at the club is united.

“One thing we will do is stick together because of the Rangers family, and the gaffer’s words – ‘we don’t do walking away’ – were perfect, really, given the circumstances. The fans love that and it’s all about staying strong in these testing times.

“I’ve made no secret about the fact I’ve grown up supporting the club so I know all about the passion they have for the club and I am no different – it’s a special club.”

Saturday’s sell-out even topped a crowd of 50,221 who watched Rangers defeat Celtic 4-2 in September’s Old Firm derby, such was the desire of fans to demonstrate their backing for McCoist and his players last weekend.

Healy added: “The fans turned up at the weekend as they always do and got behind the club and the players, although we didn’t get the result we wanted.”

Healy revealed how McCoist showed his players footage of better times for the club ahead of the visit of Kilmarnock.

He said: “When we had our team talk on Saturday the gaffer showed us a montage on TV which went back through the years. The European Cup Winners’ Cup success was on it and a couple of the gaffer’s goals were on there as well.

“We also saw Davie Cooper score against Aberdeen in the Skol Cup final years ago and, for me, that was something I still remember to this day. I was at the two Skol Cup finals against Aberdeen when the gaffer and Durranty [Ian Durrant] were such big players for the club and, when I was watching the goals go in, the hairs on the back on my neck stood up because I remember vividly being there.

“Although we didn’t get the result we wanted, there were a lot of things that happened on Saturday that will stick with me, in particular the fans.”

Meanwhile, as indicated last week by the club’s administrators, Rangers staff were paid in full and on time as planned yesterday.