Ally McCoist: Rangers could beat Celtic and Kilmarnock...

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...but that doesn't mean we're ready to win the Premiership title.

 

THE Light Blues boss has already led his team to wins over St Johnstone and Inverness this season but says further investment is needed if they are to compete in the top flight.

 

IT'S been the great pub debate of the last couple of years. Just where are Rangers in the grand scheme of Scottish football?

 

They play in the Championship of course but voices have been raised in boozers all across the country about just where Gers actually are when you rip up the divisions.

 

Folk will point to the £6million annual budget. Is the second most expensive squad the second best in the land? They will point to internationals and players who have cut it at the top level for several seasons.

 

But it’s been a kiddy-on debate for the pub – until now.

 

Rangers have already beaten St Johnstone and Inverness this season – two of last term’s star turns.

 

Now they have Kilmarnock coming up in the Scottish Cup. Oh, there’s also a quiet wee matter of the League Cup semi-final against Celtic in the pipeline.

 

Soon it might become clearer just where Gers are in the unnatural pecking order.

 

Ally McCoist doesn’t see it that way though. The boss reckons his side could beat Killie and Celtic and it still wouldn’t mean they are ready to mount a title tilt next season.

 

They have to get there first and McCoist is wary of thinking even an Old Firm win will suggest his troops are ready for a bigger battle. The Ibrox gaffer has enough on his plate in the short term and insisted beating their old foes doesn’t mean his club won’t need to strengthen further.

 

He said: “No matter if we beat Kilmarnock and Celtic there’s no way we are ready to win the top flight.

 

“Do we need new players? Absolutely. To compete right at the top. The boys we have brought in are free transfers.

 

“Look at the lads who left us, we paid £2.5m for Naismith, £2.5m for Whittaker, we paid millions for Davis and we brought in free transfers. So it’s not rocket science to work it out.

 

“We have a long way to go before we are anywhere near competing for the top-flight title.”

 

Even if they get the better of the champions?

 

McCoist said: “I understand that thinking. But Inverness beat Celtic this season and how many people now think they’ll win the league?

 

“Same with Hamilton. They’re going great but I don’t think they will win the league. In a one-off game a lot of teams are capable of giving Celtic a game and occasionally beating them.

 

“But over a Grand National course I don’t think there’s any that would give them a run for their money.”

 

Whether McCoist will get the new signings he needs is still not clear.

 

The new Mike Ashley regime is plotting in the background but the Gers boss has yet to learn whether he will have money to spend in January or next summer.

 

He said: “I don’t know, I’ll have to wait and see. That’s not been spoken about. I’m the same as every other manager – we’d all love to strengthen our squads.

 

“I’ve been in dialogue with the chairman but football matters like that haven’t been discussed yet.

 

“That’s not yet happened with the new regime. But it hadn’t yet happened to any real degree with Graham Wallace or Philip Nash either. I’ve been dealing with the chairman for the last couple of weeks. He’s been up on a far more regular basis and is actively pursuing a new chief executive.”

 

McCoist hasn’t notice too much change since Ashley’s power play at the end of last month.

 

At least the situation at Ibrox hasn’t got worse, no mean feat these last few years, but he has continued to keep his head down and focus on matters on the pitch.

 

McCoist said: “I don’t know if it’s more stable. It’s certainly not less stabilised. It is what it is and it’s fine. It’s business as usual for the playing and coaching staff, as it has been all season. We’re concentrating on trying to get results.”

 

That includes today’s visit of Falkirk where Rangers are looking to make it eight wins on the spin.

 

The Light Blues are motoring after a stalling start and determined to keep the pressure on leaders Hearts.

 

Gers have not been used to playing catch-up after strolling to the League One and Two titles but striker Jon Daly vows they’re relishing the chase.

 

He said: “We have turned the corner. We have been playing some good stuff lately and the results have come.

 

“We need to keep winning and putting pressure on Hearts. Hopefully they will start dropping points and we can close the gap.

 

“Last season we won the league comfortably so this is the first time I have been in a campaign where we have been chasing the title.

 

“It’s a good pressure to be under. It’s a challenge I am enjoying. It keeps you on the edge and on your toes.”

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ally-mccoist-rangers-could-beat-4590163