Ally McCoist (2011 to 2014)
They say timing is everything and in terms of Ally McCoist’s tenure as Manager, it was undoubtedly a case of right job / wrong time.
Although Ally had left Rangers almost a decade earlier, he was still the darling of the support when he returned to Ibrox in January 2007 in the capacity of Assistant Manager. Already part of Walter Smith’s coaching staff with Scotland, McCoist was prepared to relinquish that role and a flourishing media career to facilitate a return to his boyhood heroes.
As time progressed, Ally would be handed additional responsibilities for domestic cup matches in what was a clear indication of the Club’s succession planning. It did not come as a surprise when, in February 2011, it was announced McCoist would be the new manager for season 2011/12 (with Walter looking to embark on a well-earned retirement). In addition to a new management team, Rangers would find themselves under new ownership for the first time since 1988.
The defending champions would start life relatively well under McCoist, undefeated in the first 15 matches of the league campaign. However, failure to qualify for the Champions League had exacerbated problems created by the new owners’ lack of transparency (over future funding) and Rangers were heading for a financial meltdown. By February 2012 the Club was placed into Administration and a 10-point deduction immediately ended any title challenge. Far worse was to follow as Rangers were forced to start 2012/13 in the bottom tier of Scottish Football, again under new owners of whom there was much distrust.
Against a backdrop of top players leaving on mass, an incoming transfer embargo and ongoing suspicion within the boardroom, McCoist was the main focal point for thousands of concerned fans. Ally would appear to age dramatically as the pressures took their toll. It seemed to be one crisis after another and whilst the football almost felt secondary, it was vital that Rangers climbed back up the leagues.
Division 3 was ticked off in season 2012/13, a winning margin of 24 points nothing more than would have been anticipated given the level of opposition. The fact that Rangers had failed to win 11 of 36 games against part-time opposition was certainly an eye opener. Twelve months on and League One had been negotiated in a far more convincing manner. Unbeaten throughout the campaign, second pace Dunfermline was almost 40 points behind Ally’s runaway winners. As season 2014/15 approached, there was an expectation that this would be the last season outside the top flight. However, circumstances would dictate that old foes Hibernian and Hearts would also be competing for a return to the Premiership.
It was Hearts who came out of the traps flying (winning at Ibrox on an opening day) and very soon they held such an advantage that it was clear they would secure the only automatic spot available for promotion. The relationship between the board and the fans was as strained as ever and the performances on the pitch offered little respite. A Challenge Cup defeat to Alloa Athletic on 3rd December 2014 felt like the defining moment and McCoist would soon serve notice of seeking to run down his rolling contact. Although not immediately, Ally would shortly be placed on ‘gardening’ leave with the Club still hopeful that a return to the top league may be achieved through the play-offs.
Perhaps ironically, a new regime would gain power within several months of Ally’s departure and they would strive to provide the level of stability that McCoist had desperately craved during his ill-fated spell as Manager.
by Rick Plews
Ally McCoist (2011 to 2014)
They say timing is everything and in terms of Ally McCoist’s tenure as Manager, it was undoubtedly a case of right job / wrong time.
Although Ally had left Rangers almost a decade earlier, he was still the darling of the support when he returned to Ibrox in January 2007 in the capacity of Assistant Manager. Already part of Walter Smith’s coaching staff with Scotland, McCoist was prepared to relinquish that role and a flourishing media career to facilitate a return to his boyhood heroes.
As time progressed, Ally would be handed additional responsibilities for domestic cup matches in what was a clear indication of the Club’s succession planning. It did not come as a surprise when, in February 2011, it was announced McCoist would be the new manager for season 2011/12 (with Walter looking to embark on a well-earned retirement). In addition to a new management team, Rangers would find themselves under new ownership for the first time since 1988.
The defending champions would start life relatively well under McCoist, undefeated in the first 15 matches of the league campaign. However, failure to qualify for the Champions League had exacerbated problems created by the new owners’ lack of transparency (over future funding) and Rangers were heading for a financial meltdown. By February 2012 the Club was placed into Administration and a 10-point deduction immediately ended any title challenge. Far worse was to follow as Rangers were forced to start 2012/13 in the bottom tier of Scottish Football, again under new owners of whom there was much distrust.
Against a backdrop of top players leaving on mass, an incoming transfer embargo and ongoing suspicion within the boardroom, McCoist was the main focal point for thousands of concerned fans. Ally would appear to age dramatically as the pressures took their toll. It seemed to be one crisis after another and whilst the football almost felt secondary, it was vital that Rangers climbed back up the leagues.
Division 3 was ticked off in season 2012/13, a winning margin of 24 points nothing more than would have been anticipated given the level of opposition. The fact that Rangers had failed to win 11 of 36 games against part-time opposition was certainly an eye opener. Twelve months on and League One had been negotiated in a far more convincing manner. Unbeaten throughout the campaign, second pace Dunfermline was almost 40 points behind Ally’s runaway winners. As season 2014/15 approached, there was an expectation that this would be the last season outside the top flight. However, circumstances would dictate that old foes Hibernian and Hearts would also be competing for a return to the Premiership.
It was Hearts who came out of the traps flying (winning at Ibrox on an opening day) and very soon they held such an advantage that it was clear they would secure the only automatic spot available for promotion. The relationship between the board and the fans was as strained as ever and the performances on the pitch offered little respite. A Challenge Cup defeat to Alloa Athletic on 3rd December 2014 felt like the defining moment and McCoist would soon serve notice of seeking to run down his rolling contact. Although not immediately, Ally would shortly be placed on ‘gardening’ leave with the Club still hopeful that a return to the top league may be achieved through the play-offs.
Perhaps ironically, a new regime would gain power within several months of Ally’s departure and they would strive to provide the level of stability that McCoist had desperately craved during his ill-fated spell as Manager.
by Rick Plews
