McCoist sticks up for Templeton

02 September 2012 20:51
Rangers manager Ally McCoist is confident he has not signed a player with an attitude problem in David Templeton. Templeton quit Tynecastle late on Friday night when he secured a switch to Ibrox shortly before the transfer deadline.

Hearts responded to the move by releasing a statement on their website questioning the player's attitude and suggesting he was motivated by money. Speaking after Sunday's 5-1 win over Elgin in the Third Division, McCoist said: "I don't want to get involved. "All I would say is that every player who has left this club has gone with our best wishes and we have thanked them. "Maybe that should be the way to do it but I'm not going to get involved in any slanging matches with anybody. "I don't claim to know him very, very well but I don't see him having an attitude problem. "He will have dips in form like everybody else, I would imagine, but I would like to think I'm not in the habit of attempting to sign players with attitude problems."

When asked about the comments from his former club, Templeton said: "That's the way they see it. "I'm not too fussed about what they say. "I'm just concentrating on what I do at Rangers. Hearts is behind me now." Templeton marked his Rangers debut with a double, before being named the sponsors' man of the match. He added: "If I'd got one more goal it would have been better but I can't be too fussy. "It was a good start getting two goals and being involved in one of the other ones." McCoist was also thrilled with Templeton's start to life as a Rangers player. He said: "He gives us everything we thought we would get from the wee man. "He takes the ball in tight areas, he commits people and he creates chances and scores goals. "In terms of his debut, we couldn't have been happier. "He's going to be a real crowd pleaser and I think the fans have already taken to him. "It was a good start and I think there is plenty to come from David. As debuts go, you would have to say it was good."

As well as Templeton, McCoist also recruited the services of trialist Francesco Stella before Friday's deadline but red tape means he could not feature against Elgin. McCoist said: "I'm not sure the international clearance has come through. "Francesco has come over and he's a player we decided to give a short-term contract to. Hopefully he will do well. "The administration boys will be checking on the international clearance and hopefully that can get through." With a 12-month transfer ban now in place, McCoist admits he is unhappy with the numbers he was able to recruit before the end of the window.

He said: "The fact I was saying last week that I'd be happier with four or five bodies in, and we got one or two in and one out, the maths would indicate that I'm not particularly happy.

"At least we know now where we are and what we've got." New skipper Lee McCulloch was also on target with a brace, after Dean Shiels cancelled out Jamie Duff's shock opener for Elgin at Ibrox. McCulloch was handed the armband following the departure of Carlos Bocanegra on loan to Racing Santander. McCoist said: "The biggest compliment you could pay Lee was to tell you it was a no-brainer of a decision. "Lee's attitude and willingness to play in different positions and to help people around him has always been apparent. "It's been there for everybody to see and it was a natural choice for us to make. "He was very proud and pleased and so he should be.

Source: team_talk