McCoist sends Rangers rallying cry

Ally McCoist has called on Glasgow Rangers fans to stick with the club through its current turmoil.

The Rangers boss – who has supported the club since he was a boy and is their record goalscorer – empathised with the fans after they were docked 10 points for going into administration on Tuesday.

That means Rangers’ hopes of winning a fourth consecutive Scottish Premier League title are effectively dashed, with Celtic now 14 points clear at the summit of the competition.

“The most important people at this football club have always been the fans and that will always be the case,” McCoist told the Rangers official website.

“They are suffering at the moment and I am one myself. I have supported the club all my life and I know how they are feeling.”

“The one thing that I have to ask them at this time is to be with the club and with the team. The team really need the support of the fans more than ever in this hour.”

“They understand that it is not an ideal situation. We have been deducted 10 points and that makes life very, very difficult for us.”

“But these are the facts and I would just ask the fans for their continued great support and to please get behind the team.”

Rangers are in a dispute with the tax authorities that could see them forced to pay a bill in excess of 50 million pounds.

McCoist believes the club’s supporters will continue to support the team and recalled the 2008 UEFA Cup final against Zenit St. Petersburg in Manchester as an example of Rangers’ massive fan base.

“I can still close my eyes and see our fans in that stadium down in Manchester and that will live with me until my dying day. It was incredible support for the team and we have had that over our 140 years,” he said.

“I’m biased but I make no apology for that, I believe we have the best fans in the world and I think that will show in the next few weeks.”

Rangers play host to Kilmarnock on Saturday.