Ally McCoist - Coaching Career

Coaching Career

McCoist joined the Scotland coaching staff under his former manager at Rangers, Walter Smith in 2004. He turned down the managerial position at Inverness Caledonian Thistle in 2006 as he wanted a job nearer his Glasgow home.

McCoist returned to Rangers as an assistant manager to Walter Smith in January 2007. After Rangers' victory over Queen of the South in the 2008 Scottish Cup Final, Smith revealed that McCoist had been in charge of the team for the entire cup campaign. On 22 February 2011 he was announced as the new Rangers manager beginning in June 2011 and ending in June 2012.

McCoist's first competitive game in charge of Rangers came on 23 July 2011, a 1–1 draw at home to Hearts on the opening day of the 2011–12 SPL. After the game McCoist complained to BBC Scotland about a report that he argued misrepresented his view on violence after Old Firm derbies and the cost of policing the matches. The BBC stood by the report but upheld the complaint about the way the piece had been edited. On Tuesday 26 July 2011, the BBC issued an apology to McCoist and he, in turn, dropped his ban on speaking to them. In April 2011, McCoist had called for Rangers supporters who sung offensive chants to be arrested.

McCoist took charge of his first European game on 26 July 2011 at home to Swedish side Malmö FF in the first leg of a UEFA Champions League third round qualifier, losing 1–0 to suffer his first defeat as Rangers manager. His first win came on 30 July, away to St.Johnstone with a 2–0 scoreline, goals coming from Nikica Jelavić and Steven Naismith. McCoist's first Champions League campaign ended at the first hurdle after drawing 1–1 away to Malmo in the Third qualifying round second leg, losing 2–1 on aggregate and having Madjid Bougherra and Steven Whittaker sent off. Despite dropping into the Europa League, McCoist's first European campaign as Rangers manager ended early after another defeat over two legs in the play-off round by NK Maribor.

On SPL duty, after McCoist's first five league matches managing Rangers, the club were top of the SPL having conceded only one goal. His first Old Firm match as manager was a 4–2 win over Celtic at Ibrox but his side were shocked by First Division Falkirk in the League Cup with 3–2 loss a few days later. McCoist suffered a fourth cup competition exit of the season on 5 February 2012, in a 2-0 defeat at home to Dundee Utd in the Scottish Cup fifth round.

Despite being within four points of Celtic at the top of the table in February, having been fifteen points clear of their arch rivals at one stage, Rangers' SPL title challenge was virtually ended after the club entered administration on 14 February 2012 and was deducted ten points as a consequence.

McCoist was able to see out the season with Rangers finishing in second place despite the points deduction. His popularity increased with the Rangers fans even more after passionately committing his future to the club in the middle of financial crisis.

Following the rejection of a company voluntary arrangement in the attempt to takeover Rangers by a consortium lead by Yorkshire businessman Charles Green, a deal was completed to sell the club's business, assets and history to Green under a new company structure. During this process there was heavy press speculation that McCoist was set to resign as Rangers manager after a conflict with Charles Green, however, he remained with the club. McCoist then worked alongside Green as Rangers attempted to get a league to play in for the new season, which eventually turned out to be the Scottish Third Division.

McCoist took charge of Rangers' first match as a lower division club on 29 July 2012 in the first round of the Scottish Challenge Cup, beating Brechin City away from home 2-1 after extra time. On 11 August 2012, McCoist managed Rangers in their first Third Division match, drawing 2-2 away to Peterhead with Andrew Little scoring a last minute equaliser. A week later on 18 August 2012 he followed this up with the club's first win in their new league, a 5-1 victory against East Stirling at Ibrox Stadium.

McCoist suffered his fifth different cup competition exit in 14 months as Rangers manager on 18 September 2012, getting knocked out of the Scottish Challenge Cup quarter-finals at home to Second Division Queen of the South 4-3 on penalty kicks, after a 2-2 draw over ninety minutes and extra time. McCoist took charge of his side's first league defeat of the season on 6 October 2012, losing 1-0 away to bottom side Stirling Albion.