MARK WALTERS insists the job Ally McCoist has done managing Rangers during their most turbulent period shouldnât be underestimated.
And the former Light Blues winger is adamant the experiences his old colleague has had in the last few months will only help him to succeed in the future.
By Gersâ own admission, performances havenât always been at the level many would have liked this season.
But results have been good overall and have taken the team to within a few wins of claiming the Third Division title.
Off-field matters have often overshadowed what has been happening on the park and few could have foreseen even half of what has unfolded.
When the club was at its lowest ebb, it required someone who knew the landscape inside out to keep it on track â and Walters feels McCoist was perfect for the role.
He said: âIt needed somebody who has Rangers in their blood and going through their veins and Ally was the man to do that.
âAnybody in the game who knows football will have known it was never going to be easy for him.
âItâs difficult for any team that is brought together quickly like Rangers were. You even saw that at Manchester City and even now they still have problems gelling sometimes.
âI always knew it would be hard for Ally but he knows the game well and the boys are gelling well.
âNot many people could have kept a lid on things the way he has and he has handled the situation really well.
âThere has been a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes people maybe donât know about and he has dealt with that too.
âAlly and his backroom staff have come out with a lot of credit. Theyâve had to put up with a lot and given this is his first job, Ally has done really well.
âGiven heâs in charge of a club the size of Rangers, heâs had to come through what the club has and he hasnât had a lot of money to spend, that will help him in his future career.â
Walter was back in Glasgow today promoting ESPNâs coverage of the trip to Berwick Rangers on Sunday.
But he has only been back at Ibrox once since the new regime saved the club for Decemberâs 140th anniversary celebrations at the match against Stirling Albion.
Walters was blown away by the level of support for the club that day and knows it has been strong all season.
He has been left in no doubt that as long as that backing remains in place, the fans can drive their team back to its rightful place at the highest level in football.
Walters added: âI was at the Stirling Albion game and I had to take some video shots of it because I couldnât believe the crowd.
âTo have a full house of 50,000 people and an awesome atmosphere was unbelievable. I was really shocked by how good it was and the fans have been brilliant this season.
âIf that had happened at my local club Aston Villa you could forget 50,000 people. There would have been about 5,000 there to watch a similar standard of football.
âI always thought it would be difficult at first but Iâve no doubt Rangers can get back to the top again with a support like that behind them.
âHopefully the team can get back to the top flight as quickly as possible then into the Champions League after that. Thatâs where the club should be.â
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What a player he was, I was only a child when he signed but he was one of the players that was present when our decade long dominance of Scottish football started.
And the former Light Blues winger is adamant the experiences his old colleague has had in the last few months will only help him to succeed in the future.
By Gersâ own admission, performances havenât always been at the level many would have liked this season.
But results have been good overall and have taken the team to within a few wins of claiming the Third Division title.
Off-field matters have often overshadowed what has been happening on the park and few could have foreseen even half of what has unfolded.
When the club was at its lowest ebb, it required someone who knew the landscape inside out to keep it on track â and Walters feels McCoist was perfect for the role.
He said: âIt needed somebody who has Rangers in their blood and going through their veins and Ally was the man to do that.
âAnybody in the game who knows football will have known it was never going to be easy for him.
âItâs difficult for any team that is brought together quickly like Rangers were. You even saw that at Manchester City and even now they still have problems gelling sometimes.
âI always knew it would be hard for Ally but he knows the game well and the boys are gelling well.
âNot many people could have kept a lid on things the way he has and he has handled the situation really well.
âThere has been a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes people maybe donât know about and he has dealt with that too.
âAlly and his backroom staff have come out with a lot of credit. Theyâve had to put up with a lot and given this is his first job, Ally has done really well.
âGiven heâs in charge of a club the size of Rangers, heâs had to come through what the club has and he hasnât had a lot of money to spend, that will help him in his future career.â
Walter was back in Glasgow today promoting ESPNâs coverage of the trip to Berwick Rangers on Sunday.
But he has only been back at Ibrox once since the new regime saved the club for Decemberâs 140th anniversary celebrations at the match against Stirling Albion.
Walters was blown away by the level of support for the club that day and knows it has been strong all season.
He has been left in no doubt that as long as that backing remains in place, the fans can drive their team back to its rightful place at the highest level in football.
Walters added: âI was at the Stirling Albion game and I had to take some video shots of it because I couldnât believe the crowd.
âTo have a full house of 50,000 people and an awesome atmosphere was unbelievable. I was really shocked by how good it was and the fans have been brilliant this season.
âIf that had happened at my local club Aston Villa you could forget 50,000 people. There would have been about 5,000 there to watch a similar standard of football.
âI always thought it would be difficult at first but Iâve no doubt Rangers can get back to the top again with a support like that behind them.
âHopefully the team can get back to the top flight as quickly as possible then into the Champions League after that. Thatâs where the club should be.â
----------------------
What a player he was, I was only a child when he signed but he was one of the players that was present when our decade long dominance of Scottish football started.
