Source: Team_Talk
McCoist wants top job if Smith quits
McCoist, Smith's assistant manager at Ibrox, also insisted he did not know when his own deal was due to end - although it is widely believed his contract is aligned with Smith's.[LNB]Smith caused a sensation after Saturday's SPL draw with Hibernian when he claimed Rangers' spending was being overseen by Lloyds Banking Group, with the club reportedly around £30million in debt.[LNB]McCoist, Rangers' record goalscorer, said: "Myself and Walter are in the same boat as the players in that we don't exactly know what's going to happen in the immediate future.[LNB]"The most important thing is the club and it needs stability. The club is up for sale and an ideal situation - and I speak as a fan as well as an employee - is the person who comes in is someone who has Rangers' best interests at heart.[LNB]"If that happens then no-one will be happier than me and Walter Smith. I won't lie; it would be my dream to remain involved with the club if Walter decides to move on at the end of his contract.[LNB]"I have grown up with Rangers and it would be fantastic to manage the club. I don't want to go anywhere, I am happy where I am.[LNB]"Circumstances are not ideal at the moment but if they change and the people in charge still want me at Ibrox then I will be there.[LNB]"I have to stress, the future of the club is more important than everything else. If the club is stable, anything is possible after that."[LNB]Asked if he had discussed the possibility of succeeding his mentor, McCoist added: "I haven't and the reason I haven't is because I do not know what is happening and I am being honest about that.[LNB]"But I will say that managing Rangers would be absolutely wonderful. If it happens, fantastic. If it doesn't, we move on and move on in the hope that Rangers' future is solid."[LNB]It is anticipated Smith, 61, will retire from football management in the New Year but McCoist, 47, said he does know when his own contract expires.[LNB]"I promise this, I do not know when my contract ends. I am brutally honest about that and I do not say that in a flippant manner.[LNB]"The reason why I do not know is because it's not something I really concern myself about. Rangers is more important than me or any individual and Rangers' welfare is my only concern.[LNB]"People in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and all over the world are going crazy with worry about the club. That shows how big Rangers is - it's more than football, it's life.[LNB]"Never mind myself and Walter, there are players at the club who are worried about their future. There are hundreds and thousands of fans to be concerned about too."[LNB]McCoist applauded Smith's "honest" revelation about the cash crisis at Rangers.[LNB]He said: "Walter was only being honest. I don't think he can take any stick for saying what he said.[LNB]"There are fans all over the world and they deserve to know the news and the expect to be told day to day what is happening at the club.[LNB]"The manager has told everyone the truth and I do not see anything wrong with the way he has handled the matter.[LNB]"This whole situation is hurting Walter Smith - he knows more than anyone that he has be up front with the fans.[LNB]"Of course, I am his biggest supporter but, as a fan, I would have expected the truth to come out too.[LNB]"Walter will be first to admit he has made mistakes in football and we all do. But one thing he will never be accused of is dishonesty."[LNB]Smith also claimed on Saturday that Rangers' entire squad had been up for sale since January, the month in which Kris Boyd rejected a £3million move to Birmingham.[LNB]Monday saw Lloyds respond with a statement claiming they neither operated nor ran Rangers and that there was no need to offload players in the next transfer window.[LNB][LNB] Dundee Utd v Rangers. Click here to bet.