Source: Team_Talk
Ally sure Old Firm could compete
The debate about the Old Firm quitting Scottish football was re-opened by Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell this week when he reiterated his desire to see the Glasgow giants move south of the border.
His Ibrox counterpart Martin Bain then revealed his belief that the Scottish champions would move on from the SPL within the next decade.
Such a move would mean sacrificing silverware and European football initially but McCoist believes the Old Firm would eventually be in a position to match the top clubs in England.
"I definitely think they could compete," said the Rangers assistant manager.
"I don't have any doubts about that. Rangers and Celtic are as big as most clubs in England.
"Manchester United are way out on their own but Rangers and Celtic, in terms of stature of the clubs, are bigger than most in England.
"If it did happen, certainly within four or five years, we would be competing at some sort of level.
"I'm not saying for a minute we are going to win it, but we would be able to compete."
Despite clinching the title and booking their place in the money-spinning group stages of the Champions League, lack of finances restricted Rangers to just one new signing this summer - Jerome Rothen on a season-long loan from Paris Saint Germain.
But McCoist knows the days of spending big in the transfer market are long gone and that situation is unlikely to change as long as they remain in the SPL.
"It's a fact of life," he said. "Ourselves and Celtic cannot compete with the top teams in England.
"In fact, we are struggling to compete with any of the teams in the Premiership at the moment in terms of transfer fees and wages paid."
The same applies in the Champions League, where the gulf between Rangers and Sevilla was cruelly exposed when the Spaniards left Ibrox with a 4-1 win last month.
"You just have to look at our game against Sevilla," said McCoist.
"They finished third in La Liga last year and at the weekend they went out and absolutely battered Real Madrid. I watched the game and they are a top side.
"At this moment in time, for Rangers and Celtic to compete with these teams, you need a bit of luck and one or two things to go
your way.
"You always believe you can beat them in a one-off game but we are not strong enough to compete with them over the long-term."
He added: "I agree with Martin (Bain) in the respect that any move is probably a couple of years off.
"There is a lot to be talked about and a lot of water to flow under the bridge before it happens. But I can see it happening."
Like McCoist, former Celtic captain Tom Boyd, who was also speaking at a Show Racism the Red Card event in Glasgow, has no concerns about the Old Firm struggling to cope in England.
"There would be no problems with that," he said.
"With the size of support both clubs have, I don't think it would cause any problems going down there.
"Initially, it would take a while to adjust. But, once the money was coming into both clubs, I'm sure they would be able to climb the league."
Asked what he believed would be the fate of the 10 teams left behind if Celtic and Rangers did quit the SPL, Boyd said: "It depends on what the scenario would be.
"Would Celtic and Rangers have no teams in the Scottish League? Or would they keep a team and maybe play reserves or young players?
"A lot of people think it would make the Scottish game more competitive if you took away the Old Firm.
"Right now it is a two-horse race and will be for the foreseeable future because Celtic and Rangers have the money to dominate Scottish football, the way the English teams have the money to dominate European football.
"I would like to see how competitive it would be."
