Hoping for the best and preparing for the worst, McCoist braced as administrator’s axe poised to fall on playing staff

An announcement from administrators Duff and Phelps is expected tomorrow or Wednesday on the scale of job losses.

Paul Clark, the administrator who has been dealing directly with McCoist, confirmed for the first time at the weekend that players will be affected.

Director of football Gordon Smith and chief operating officer Ali Russell were informed last week that their employment was being terminated, while under-17 coach Alan Kernaghan has left to take up a role at Brentford.

So far, Australian midfielder Matt McKay is the only member of the playing staff to have been moved on by the administrators after being sold to South Korean club Busan I Park.

“We are still looking at other cuts, and I expect to make an announcement about this at some stage next week,” said Clark. “But those cuts will undoubtedly include playing staff.”

McCoist, speaking after Rangers’ 4-1 win at Inverness Caledonian Thistle yesterday, said he was unaware of Clark’s comment but is ready to deal with the potentially traumatic developments awaiting the club.

“There have already been job losses, we shouldn’t forget that,” said McCoist. “Paul Clark hasn’t actually told me that players will be going; I give you my word on that, but I’m not daft enough to think that there might not be cuts here and there.

“He will tell me what is happening, though. I have to say that Paul Clark has been great. It’s ironic to say that we have had productive meetings with an administrator but we have and I hope we continue in that vein.”

When the possibility that some of his squad may have played their last game for Rangers yesterday was put to him, McCoist replied: “We will discuss that if and when it happens.

“Hopefully, the worst case doesn’t happen. Today wasn’t about that, though. It was all about putting a smile back on the face of everyone at the club. By that I include the travelling fans, the coaching staff, the secretarial staff at Murray Park and Ibrox. Today was all about giving the entire club a boost, and I’m really pleased they did that. What I have said to the players is that I’m honest and transparent with them. There’s no point me calling a meeting when there is nothing for me to say. They know that I will tell them when I know anything via the administrator. I’m part of the staff under the administrator just like the players, albeit I am higher up the pecking order when it comes to receiving information.

“One thing the players have always had and needed during my time with them is a healthy respect for each other to go and play. They did that today. When you look about, they have been battered and bruised and took a couple of standing counts. But they are far from out. The willingness to help each other and give the entire club a boost was there to see.

“I said what I had to say to them before the game today but, as Walter Smith used to say, the vast majority of the times you play for Rangers the motivation has to come from within.

“That’s why they play at a club like Rangers. No matter who the opposition are, you have to win and are expected to win the vast majority of games. You have a huge level of self motivation at this club which maybe you don’t get at other clubs.” Inverness manager Terry Butcher heaped praise on the attitude of the Rangers players, which he compared unfavourably to his own team’s approach.

“Rangers deserve a lot of credit for what was a great team performance under the circumstances they find themselves in,” he said.

“That Rangers team might never play together again, but I thought they showed great application, which we didn’t.

“Everything about the game was poor from our point of view. We were lucky it was only 4-1.”