Ally McCoist’s family help him through latest Gers crisis

Ally McCoist’s family are helping him cope with the stress of managing Rangers.

The Ibrox boss has come under intense criticism in the aftermath of his side falling nine points behind Hearts in the race for the Championship title.

Some supporters gave vent to their feelings at Tynecastle, while others have used social media and radio phone-ins to call for McCoist’s sacking.

Despite his ever-cheerful demeanour, it must be hard for him to take the abuse after devoting so much time to helping resurrect the club during a time of financial meltdown.

He believes the secret of coping lies close to home.

He said: “I am very lucky having five boys, and the younger ones in particular tend to have other things on their mind apart from dad’s football.

“That is a fantastic bonus. But you can be sitting watching the telly, and things flash through your mind about free-kicks and thoughts like: ‘How did we lose that?’

“I’m no different from any other coach or manager. That’s what happens.

“But I’m certainly lucky to have the boys to keep my feet on the ground, and realise that work is absolutely important and you do your best but there are other things as well.”

The Rangers boss admits he does have concerns about the impact his job has on his kids.

He went on: “The younger ones are fine. For the older ones it’s harder. They’re big boys and there’s social media and stuff. You try to shield them from it, but it doesn’t work.

“You do worry about your older ones because they have feelings, but they’re big enough and are sensible boys. I’m lucky in that respect.

“They have a thick skin. I think it’s a McCoist trait and will be on all our epitaphs.”

The 52-year-old is adamant that a defeat on the field is much harder to take than a bit of abuse from an anonymous voice in the stand.

He went on: “The disappointment of losing the game is worse than the criticism. The criticism you know is coming. It’s part and parcel of the job and you can accept it.

“The defeats are harder to take, particularly when you think we have a team set up to go out and get a result. I’ve been involved with the club for well over 20 years.

“I know as well as anybody that when things are going well, you’ll get a pat on the back and when things aren’t going great, you’ll get criticism. It’s just about getting the balance right and treating the two the same.

“There has been a lot of criticism flying about over the last 10 days. But if you can’t handle it, then you’re in the wrong profession. It’s about the team and the club getting back. That’s the bigger picture.

“If the players and I have to take a little bit of the criticism or even a big bit of criticism along the way then so be it. We can’t take our eyes off the task and the journey ahead of getting the club back.”