Source: Team_Talk
McCoist focused on SPL defence
Ally McCoist takes Rangers to Germany on Wednesday on a pre-season tour knowing last season's success has already been consigned to history.[LNB] Walter Smith's last campaign at the helm ended with a final-day Clydesdale Bank Premier League title victory at Kilmarnock to add to the Co-operative Insurance Cup which was won earlier in the season.[LNB]New boss McCoist, promoted from assistant, has organised an eight-day training camp which will also involve games against Sportfreunde Lotte on Thursday, Bochum on Saturday and then Bayer Leverkusen on July 13.[LNB]He claims the focus at Rangers has already turned to winning the fourth SPL title in a row.[LNB]"We are off and running," McCoist told RangersTV.[LNB]"It doesn't seem so long ago that we were dancing about Rugby Park and then at Ibrox but that's history now.[LNB]"We have to go and retain the championship.[LNB]"We are off to Germany and it's a place that has been very good to us in the past.[LNB]"The facilities are very good, the games are ideal and the people are great."[LNB]McCoist hopes to complete his first new signing since taking over later today, with Spanish midfielder Juan Manuel Ortiz set to join, while McCoist is hopeful midfielder Steven Davis will be next to pledge his future to Rangers following long-term deals awarded to Allan McGregor and Steven Whittaker.[LNB]Light Blues goalkeeper McGregor penned a new six-year deal while defender Whittaker has signed up for five and McCoist is keen for Davis - in the final year of his contract - to extend his stay in Govan.[LNB]McCoist said: "Hopefully Steven Davis will follow Allan and Steven.[LNB]"I don't want to tempt fate but contract negotiations are continuing with Steven and his representatives and I would be very hopeful that we could get something organised with Steven as well.[LNB]"He certainly comes into the same category as Allan and Steven.[LNB]"He has been a top player for us and instrumental in the spine of the side."[LNB]"I'm thrilled that Allan and Steven have signed new deals with the club that keeps them with us for a long time.[LNB]"They are smashing lads and great players who have been part of the success that we have been lucky enough to enjoy in the last three years and hopefully there is more to come."[LNB]McCoist continued: "There were clubs looking at both players and that was not a surprise because they are valuable assets to the club.[LNB]"When you have players of their quality then they do attract interest from elsewhere.[LNB]"They had to weigh up their options and they had important decisions to make.[LNB]"I think we all feel - and they do too - that they have made the right ones.[LNB]"It was well documented that Bursaspor were after Steven and there were one or two clubs sniffing about Allan which is no surprise because he has been nothing short of sensational in the last few seasons."[LNB]
