• McCoist: ‘Rangers are certainly looking for investment’
• Businessman King ‘waiting to hear from club’, say reports
Ally McCoist believes Rangers will want to make use of Dave King’s wealth despite the former director of the old Ibrox club claiming he had not heard from the board since offering to invest last month.
The South Africa-based Glasgow businessman was quoted in the Scottish Daily Mail on Friday morning, stating he had received no contact from the chief executive, Graham Wallace, or the club’s other directors in the past four weeks.
It was confirmed last Thursday that Wallace had asked McCoist’s squad to consider a 15% pay cut in an attempt to stem losses reported to be as much as £1m a month.
The proposal was rejected by the players but King, who lost £20m when the company that owned Rangers was liquidated in 2012, says he is still ready to plough in more money to ensure the League One leaders are able to put up a fight on their return to the Scottish Premiership. Despite their woes, the ruling Ibrox regime have yet to take up King’s offer.
McCoist said: “The chief executive has said he is certainly looking for investment. I can’t speak for Graham but, if there was a potential investor, Dave King or whoever, it’s safe to say Graham would sit down and talk to them.”
Revelations of Wallace’s pay-cut offer have sparked fears McCoist may be forced to sell players to balance the books. He has held talks with Wallace but says there is “nothing concrete” to report on further cuts or player exits.
The manager backed Wallace, who promised to undertake a 120-day review of the company at the club’s annual general meeting last month, while insisting he will do his best to ensure the quality of his squad is not diluted.
“Graham has been completely honest, open and frank in the discussions that we have had,” McCoist said. “I’m aware of the financial difficulties in the club but it’s only fair to give Graham his 120 days that he has asked for and I’m confident that Graham will be the man to take us forward.
“Rangers face Arbroath on Saturday in their final league match before the January transfer window closes. Unsurprisingly, McCoist is not expecting any new faces to arrive before then. He said: “It’s not been 100% rubbished but I have been told it might be very difficult.”
The striker Jon Daly insists the reason behind the Rangers squad’s decision to reject the pay cut will not leave the dressing room. Daly was asked to explain why that decision had been reached but declined to detail the squad’s thinking. “I don’t think that is to be spoken about,” he said. “Whatever happens in the changing room, whether it’s to do with finances or to do with tactical decisions, stays in the dressing room. As far as I’m concerned, that’s the way it is going to stay.”
- Rangers
- Ally McCoist
- Scottish League One
theguardian.com