McCoist backed to succeed Smith

McCoist is Walter Smith's deputy at Ibrox

Rangers chairman Sir David Murray has backed Ally McCoist as the long-term successor to current Ibrox manager Walter Smith.

"I would have thought, all things being equal, that he will become manager," Murray said. "It hasn't been discussed but it's an understanding among us.

"If Walter is successful then the natural successor would be McCoist.

"But if we go another two or three years without winning the league then we will all be under pressure."

Murray admits he did not regard former Ranger striker McCoist, 46, as a potential manager when he bought the club in November 1988.

But he believes beneath the light-hearted public persona of the assistant coach lies a fiercely ambitious individual.

"He didn't come back to Rangers for the money," Murray said.

MY SPORT: DEBATE Would Ally McCoist make a good manager at Ibrox?

"He came here for a lot less than he was earning. You wouldn't have thought of him as a manager 20 years ago, would you?

"But he has a very strong mentality. He is bright and makes a good coaching team with Kenny McDowall, so why shouldn't he become manager?"

For that to happen, he and Smith must find a way of ending the recent dominance of Celtic, who are looking to win the title for a fourth consecutive time.

"Celtic are strong right now, they have done well and you can't take anything away from them," said Murray.

"We must respond. It all depends on what happens on the park. We have players good enough to beat Celtic, we have already done that this season.

We will reduce the size of our squad and definitely have to bring in younger Scottish players to make up the balance of the squad Sir David Murray

"On their day, they have players capable of beating us. The future of Scottish football is that Rangers and Celtic will continue to compete against each other."

Murray warned fans not to expect any big signings in January since the club have lost out on revenue following their early exit from Europe.

"There is no doubt this is the wrong year for us to be spending money, what with going out of Europe and the financial restrictions right across the globe," added the chairman.

"It is very concerning. Every one of us has to be more financially prudent in our daily lives and we are no different as a football club.

"I don't think much will change, other than we will reduce the size of our squad and definitely have to bring in younger Scottish players to make up the balance of the squad. If we don't start doing that, then there is no point having the Murray Park training academy."

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