Ally McCoist was in vintage form at the World Snooker Championship as he joined TNT Sports' punditry panel — but it didn’t take long for talk to turn from baize to the blue side of Glasgow.
The Rangers legend, never shy of a cheeky dig at Celtic, was put on the spot by snooker icon and Parkhead season ticket holder John Higgins, who couldn’t resist a wind-up: "I’ve just seen reports that [Daniel] Levy is trying to get Brendan Rodgers to go to Tottenham Hotspur – is there any truth in that rumour?"
Cue a classic McCoist one-liner, who is desperate for the Celtic manager to depart the runaway Scottish Premiership leaders.
"John, I’ll be honest with you mate, I’m trying to get him to go anywhere," he replied.
"I don’t care, he can go to Tottenham Hotspur, I just want him south. Is that okay? Just to clarify that in case you thought I was anti-Tottenham – I’m pro-Tottenham. I want him anywhere."
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It was tongue-in-cheek from the Ibrox hero — but the message was unmistakable. McCoist wants Rodgers out of Scottish football, full stop.
But while joking about who should leave, the conversation quickly pivoted to who might come in as the next Rangers boss.
When asked if interim manager Barry Ferguson should be given the job full-time, McCoist gave a measured but honest assessment.
"Do you know something? I think Barry has done fine, I really do," he stated. "I don’t think he will get it mate because the new guys who come in will want their own man.
"I’d like to see Barry stay in some capacity. I don’t think he will get the manager’s job. I might be wrong."
As for who should take the hot seat, McCoist didn’t dodge the big names.
"I wouldn’t mind – like there’s all sorts of talk about [Jose] Mourinho. I wouldn’t be averse to a Sean Dyche or somebody like that, I really wouldn’t," he said.
McCoist, ever the realist, accepted Celtic’s current edge — but couldn’t help squeezing in a reminder of Rangers’ recent derby day joy.
"You boys are a wee bit ahead and more consistent — even though we pumped you the last time at Celtic Park. But that was a kind of one-off, so I do accept a bit of balance."
