Rangers boss McCoist aims to lift first cup of his reign

Ally McCoist is desperate to finally win the Scottish Cup as a manager under his own steam.

The Rangers boss led the club to victory twice in the competition when he was assistant to Walter Smith.

McCoist was in charge of team selection for cup games in 2008 and 2009 as Smith groomed him for taking over at Ibrox.

But the former Rangers manager has told his successor that he can no longer lay claim to those trophies!

McCoist said: “I only won the Scottish Cup once as a player and was beaten three times in Finals.

“Walter let me take the team for the two Cup successes against Falkirk and Queen of the South, but he’s taking them back. So I can’t even claim them!

“He handed me the reins for the victories which, in a phone call last night, he told me he’s taking back.

“I have to inform you that he’s not getting the two medals back, but he’s pulled rank on me!”

McCoist remains grateful to Smith for the way his mentor helped make the transition to management a little easier.

Taking charge of Rangers in Scottish Cup Finals was invaluable experience, although Smith’s presence was never far away.

McCoist said: “He could always over-rule you, he could still over-rule you, don’t worry about that!

“That man is capable of over-ruling from the grave I would imagine! But in all seriousness he was great.

“He’d built the squad but I took the team meeting, the training, the tactics, everything really.

“He was obviously doing it with an eye to the future as well.

“There is no doubt it was a great learning curve, certainly it was a great thing to have prior to getting into management.

“I take pride in those Hampden victories for the team and the club.

“I look on it as being part of a team and a squad which won the Cup, no more than that.”

With Celtic out of the Cup and Rangers being one game away from a semi-final at home, today’s tie against Albion Rovers has created an excitement that normally wouldn’t be there.

McCoist went on: “I do sense that, and it is a good feeling and a good vibe.

“The players can smell the importance of it. I can feel it amongst the supporters and the staff as well.

“I am crying out for the supporters to come along and make it as noisy and hostile an environment as they can.

“It is a great draw but only if we win the game.

“We’re overwhelming favourites in most people’s eyes and we can understand that.

“We accept that but at the same time you have to look at their record in the Cup having not lost a goal and having beaten, arguably, the second or third best team in the country in Motherwell.

“They also comfortably beat a team we lost three goals against at home in Stenhousemuir.”