Football: McCoist backs Rangers to retain Scottish crown

21 July 2011 02:00

The Scottish Premier League kicks off this weekend with new Rangers manager Ally McCoist insisting that the champions are ready to defend their title despite a summer of upheavals.

The former Rangers striker took over at the helm when veteran manager Walter Smith retired after seeing off the challenge of Neil Lennon's Celtic to lead the club to their third title in a row.

That has not been the only change at Ibrox, though.

Businessman Craig Whyte took control of Rangers from Sir David Murray in May and quickly made several boardroom changes as well as appointing former Scottish Football Association chief executive, Gordon Smith, as director of football.

After working under severe cost-cutting measures for several years McCoist has been promised financial backing in the transfer market from the new owner. But the rookie manager has found that having funds in place to bring in players doesn't necessarily guarantee the arrival of new faces.

Free agents Craig Conway, Neil Danns and Tomer Hemed all turned down the chance to sign on at Ibrox while bids for Lee Wallace, David Goodwillie and former player Kenny Miller have been rejected.

It leaves Almeria winger Juan Manuel Ortiz as the only new addition to the Rangers squad.

McCoist is desperate to boost his squad before the deadline for next week's Champions League qualifier against Swedish side Malmo in their bid to get to the group stages of the competition.

But while insisting he will get more players in, McCoist says the club will not be held to ransom.

"We are working very hard to get new players in. And we will succeed because Craig Whyte and I both know we have to build up a squad to retain the championship and hopefully to attain a reasonable level in the Champions League," he said.

"We will not spend money needlessly or carelessly. There is no doubt that a lot of transfers are a slight gamble, but the secret is to minimise the gamble as much as you can and we will certainly not be held to ransom.

"The priority has to be to retain the championship and qualify for the Champions League. Anything else would be a bonus.

"That's how we know what's required this year. The new players will be in. We will be ready."

While there has not been a huge influx of new players to Ibrox the mainstays of previous seasons have all been secured on long-term deals.

Keeper Allan McGregor signed a six-year contract while first team regulars Steven Whittaker and Steven Davis both penned five-year deals to remain with the club.

Veteran 41-year-old defender David Weir and Bosnian international Sasa Papac have also agreed new one-year deals at Ibrox.

However despite retaining the nucleus of last year's squad the Gers have struggled for form in pre-season, losing all three games in their tour of Germany, before wins against Linfield and Blackpool.

And Scotland stopper McGregor is keen for the promise of new additions to materialise.

"I think we have seen how much we need to get the right people in and pretty sharpish at that," McGregor said.

"We are still hopeful things will come together. I know the manager has been working really hard to get in the guys he feels he needs since he got the job.

"We have done a lot of good work behind the scenes and while training has been hard, that is what we have needed."

Rangers begin their SPL defence at home to Hearts on Saturday.

Source: AFP