Ally McCoist ignores off-field issues

Ally McCoist: 'My job here is to run a football team and hopefully put a winning team on the park' (Getty Images)

Rangers manager Ally McCoist insists he will continue to ignore headlines regarding the club's off-field issues and focus instead on steering their Clydesdale Bank Premier League title campaign back on track.

The Scottish Football Association have contacted the Scottish champions to seek clarification after the club confirmed owner Craig Whyte was previously disqualified as a company director.

The news was issued in a statement to the PLUS Stock Exchange on Wednesday as Rangers released their annual financial figures in the year to June 30.

Reports today also claim the Ibrox side could face expulsion from European football next season unless their finances are put in order.

McCoist said: "It doesn't affect me to be honest. There is no point worrying about things you can't affect or have a bearing on.

"My job here is to run a football team and hopefully put a winning team on the park.

"There is no use worrying about other things that you can't control."

He says the same applies to his players, who are only concerned with producing the goods on the park.

McCoist added: "They are brought up in an environment where it's like that all the time with the newspapers, media, television, radio.

"If you start worrying about it, you've got no chance. The players certainly won't worry about that.

"If we are going to worry about anything, I think we would have started worrying well before now.

"The players are a great set of boys, they have been and they will continue to be. I don't have any worries or concerns about that."

Asked about cash to spend on new players in the January transfer window, the Rangers boss said: "We will find out nearer the time.

"We would hope, like anybody else, that we could maybe make one or two changes.

"I'm totally aware of the situation the club is in at the moment and the welfare of the club is the most important thing."

He added: "I've got a good relationship with the owner.

"It's my first time in the job and it's all relatively new to me but I would have to say it's been a great working relationship.

"We speak often on the telephone and we talk about teams and players and all that sort of stuff."

Meanwhile, McCoist claims his players do not need to look to comments made by Beram Kayal for inspiration after the Celtic midfielder was quoted as saying the Hoops had the best players and played the best football in Scotland.

He said: "It just makes you smile. Everybody is entitled to their opinion, that's what it's all about.

"He's entitled to his opinion. It's not necessarily one that we would agree with but that's the game we are in.

"I think the fact our boys have been champions for the last few seasons and should have a desire to retain their championship, it's down to that more than anything.

"A pride and a professionalism in their performance - if they've got those qualities it should stand them in good stead.

"It doesn't guarantee you the championship but it will certainly stand you in good stead over the championship."

Rangers head into tomorrow's clash with Dunfermline seeking a return to winning ways after drawing with St Johnstone and then suffering their first SPL defeat of the season to Kilmarnock at the weekend.

McCoist said: "We are raring to go, we are really looking forward to it.

"It's a home game for us and an opportunity to lengthen our lead at the top.

"I can just sense that the squad are in good spirits and we're hopefully heading in the right direction again."

PA