Rangers administration: Ally McCoist vows he will not walk away from club in time of need

RANGERS manager Ally McCoist claims he has not even contemplated the prospect of quitting the Scottish champions, insisting yesterday: “We don’t do walking away.”

The Light Blues’ record goal scorer and former assistant boss took over the helm from Walter Smith last summer and now faces one of the most difficult periods in the club’s history after Rangers went into administration on Tuesday.

However, McCoist says he has not been tempted to walk away from the job during a turbulent period.

“Not at all,” he told Sky Sports News. “Absolutely not at all.

“This is my club, the same as it is for thousands and thousands of Rangers supporters. We don’t do walking away.”

Administrators were appointed after Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) forced the issue in the Court of Session in a bid to secure payment of £9million in PAYE and VAT, a debt accrued since Craig Whyte’s takeover in May.

Asked if he trusts owner Whyte, McCoist replied: “Absolutely. We have to keep going.

“We are in a position at this moment in time where the club is maybe as low as it has been – possibly ever.

“We have to put our trust and our faith in getting the club to a better place and the future will hopefully provide that.

“There is no doubt about it, it’s a low time, the club is at a low ebb. Everybody sees that, it’s very, very apparent.

“So we all have to believe and have faith and hopefully we will all do that and the club will come out of this at the other end. Of that I have no doubt and it’s the most important thing.”

McCoist and his players had a meeting with administrator Paul Clark earlier today and were told there would be no immediate job losses but that there would be a review of all staff.

McCoist said: “It actually went very well. I had a very constructive and positive meeting with Paul Clark from Duff and Phelps this morning.

“He then spoke to the playing staff, medical staff and coaching staff and he did his level best to answer questions put to him by the players and some of the staff.

“I would have to say it’s been a very constructive day today.”

On redundancies, McCoist added: “To be fair to Paul, he didn’t say it was inevitable. He said it was a possibility.

“So, at this moment in time, I would have to say that I’m still a little bit in the dark.”

McCoist indicated he was not asked to identify criteria whereby players would be axed but Clark said in a press conference this afternoon that the manager would be consulted on the exit of players.

Clark said: “We had a good, productive meeting with Ally this morning and it was apparent we are able to work together to find the right solution.

“He and I agreed that we will speak on a regular basis and meet as regularly as we need to”, continued Clark.

“So from that you can assume that Ally will be involved and will be discussing any changes on the playing side.”

Mystery still surrounds Daniel Cousin’s return to Rangers.

The striker’s signing – subject to international clearance – was announced by the club on Monday but he has not yet been registered with the Scottish Premier League.

Clark said: “Daniel was at the training ground this morning and he was one of the people that was in the audience when I addressed the players.

“We are working to see whether that is still a possibility. But at the moment, we can’t say for sure.”

The administrators are hoping to have the club’s finances in order in time to meet requirements for a UEFA licence to play in Europe next season.

On the subject of the club’s accounts, joint administrator David Whitehouse said: “That is something that we are addressing at the moment because it is one of the requirements to retain European footballing status, that we complete those accounts.

“We will be doing everything we can to meet that [UEFA] deadline.

“At this moment, I can’t give you a confirmation for certain but we will do everything we can, everything humanly possible. We understand the importance of that date.”