DIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL TALK IS ‘GARBAGE’

NEW MAN EXPECTED TO BE AT IBROX BY WEEKEND

ALLY McCOIST insists it is ‘absolute garbage and nonsense’ to think a director of football is the answer to the problems facing Rangers.

And the former Ibrox boss is adamant only huge investment in the squad will give incoming manager Pedro Caixinha any chance of mounting a credible challenge to Celtic.

McCoist spoke out as Caixinha was last night given the all clear to move to Glasgow following talks with current club Al-Gharafa.

A compensation package for the final three months of Caixinha’s deal is yet to be finalised but the Qatari club will not stand in his way.

Rangers hope to confirm the 46-year-old’s appointment on an £800,000-a-year deal before Sunday’s Premiership clash with Celtic.

Sportsmail understands that Caixinha will not take charge of the team at Parkhead and will instead watch from the stand.

The Ibrox board’s plan to appoint a director of football has, meanwhile, been put on hold after Ross Wilson turned the job down.

Rangers sources insist the club will now take time to consider alternative candidates before making an appointment.

McCoist feels that process is pointless if sizeable funds to sign quality players remain absent.

‘The director of football role works for some clubs, but it won’t help Rangers right now, no matter who they bring in,’ he argued.

‘It will just be another wage. Ross Wilson might be the best director of football on the planet but what’s his budget at Southampton? He might come up to Rangers and not have a budget.

‘I’m not blowing the concept completely out of the water, but it’s absolute garbage for people to think a director of football is going to solve the club’s problems.

‘I’m not saying it’s a bad idea, but it won’t solve the problem, in my opinion.’

McCoist admitted he knows little about Caixinha, but he feels the identity of the man in the technical area is far from the main issue.

Asked if appointing the Portuguese was a risk, he replied: ‘Anyone is a risk at the moment. Anyone.

‘I don’t think the manager is the biggest thing needing sorted out. It goes a lot deeper than that.

‘The club needs investment. I know a lot of people talk about directors of football and all that. I think that is absolute nonsense. It’s about players on the park and the club needs investment.

‘In 2007, Walter Smith went back to Rangers after Paul le Guen. He spent around £2million each on Carlos Cuellar, Steven Naismith, Steven Whittaker and Kevin Thomson. Davie Weir, Daniel Cousin and Steven Davis came in.

‘Within a year, the club was in a UEFA Cup final. Until there is investment, I think we will be having this conversation next year and the year after.

‘As I say, the biggest problem just now isn’t the manager. Would Walter make a huge improvement with the current team? Maybe a wee bit, I don’t know. But could he challenge Celtic? No chance.’

Dave King’s comments from three years ago about investing £30m are frequently cast up. The Rangers chairman stated recently that he and his fellow investors had spent £18m, a total that includes share purchases.

McCoist declined to point a finger at King, but stated a belief that the situation on the field wasn’t greatly improved from when he resigned as manager in December 2014.

‘I wouldn’t get involved in that,’ added McCoist. ‘All I’d get involved in is that it needs investment.

‘In my last year before it was announced I was leaving, I think we had 25 games. We won 19 of them. We beat three Premiership teams and never lost a goal.

‘Were we good enough then to challenge Celtic? No chance. Until there is serious investment, I think it will be the same.

‘In fact, before the 5-1 game at Parkhead, I said Celtic were miles in front and Rangers wouldn’t challenge them this year.

‘I got dog’s abuse for saying that all over social media, so I was told. Am I right? I take no pleasure in it, but Rangers are exactly where I thought they would be — unless they had massive investment.’

McCoist was manager through administration and liquidation in 2012, with that recent history providing a counter-argument to any reckless spending.

‘You can (spend) within your means,’ said McCoist. ‘I don’t know the finances, but we need to find investment. I appreciate how difficult a job the board have got and I know the board will be doing their best for Rangers.

‘But I am the last one who would say I want to put us in a precarious situation again.’

The 54-year-old does, however, detect rising frustration within the Rangers support. He believes it will boil over into anger if finance to make the club competitive with Celtic isn’t found.

‘The same situation will follow,’ said McCoist. ‘I detect the patience of the Rangers fans — and the majority are great — is wearing thin.

‘There wouldn’t be a club if it wasn’t for the way the supporters rallied in the first couple of years after administration and liquidation. They kept the club alive.

‘But I know better than anyone that the patience will be wearing thin. It’s only a matter of time before they turn on players, the board and individuals.’

The former Scotland striker attained the distinction of being Rangers’ record goalscorer during the nine-in-a-row years of Smith’s first spell in charge. Financial power helped retain dominance over a toiling Celtic.

The roles have since been reversed. While Celtic home in on a sixth successive Premiership crown, they can build from a position of strength bolstered by Champions League income. A fourth straight Old Firm win will be sought by Brendan Rodgers side this Sunday.

‘It’s difficult to gauge the two periods,’ said McCoist. ‘We’re in a similar position (as Celtic in the 90s), if not worse.

‘That Celtic team — although we were dominant — were capable of beating us on the odd occasion. You don’t see that right now.

‘I will contradict myself when I say Rangers can win the odd game, but I think we’d all say Celtic have got better players.

‘In the 1990s it wasn’t as much of a given that Rangers would win as it is now saying Celtic will win.’

ALLY McCOIST was launching the Ladbrokes Football Show, broadcast live at 6pm every Thursday from Ladbrokes Facebook page.