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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Paul Thomson

Rangers legend provides reason why he won't return to management

Ally McCoist has insisted his management days are over because Rangers were the club he always wanted to manage.

Coisty was in charge of the club for three years after succeeding Walter Smith at the helm in 2011, having spent four years as his assistant at Ibrox. The pair also had a stint together with the Scotland national team before the lure of a Rangers return brought them back to Govan.

The striking legend was in charge during and after the club's dark days of liquidation in 2012 and demotion to the bottom tier.

He then led them back up the leagues with the Third Division and League One titles before being placed on gardening leave in 2014 for the last nine months of his contract.

Now a successful co-commentator and pundit, McCoist hasn't been involved in the dug-out since.

Rangers boss Walter Smith (left) and Ally McCoist celebrate in April 2010 (SNS Group 0141 221 3602)

And it seems he has no intention of making a return, having already managed the team he loves.

Speaking on talkSPORT this morning when host Alan Brazil asked if he would ever go back into management, McCoist said: “No, not really mate to be honest with you.

“Because I’ve managed the club I always wanted to manage, albeit in difficult circumstances.

“And I enjoy my life at the moment to tell you the gospel truth.

“I’m in a good place in my life. Family’s good, I enjoy what I’m doing and I love going to games.”

Earlier this month, McCoist expressed his joy at covering and watching games at all levels. And he also gets a buzz out of watching his hometown team East Kilbride on occasion.

He said: "Grassroots football is more important now than it has ever been.

"There's nobody who loves watching Manchester City v Bayern Munich, or Liverpool v Chelsea in the Champions League - elite level football - more than I do.

"But at the same time, without grassroots football there is none of that.

"I'll probably go to five or six games at the weekend if I'm not working.

"I'll go to my kids' games, and my kids' pals' games. I'll just go and watch.

Former Rangers boss Ally McCoist (Rob Casey/SNS Group)

"I'm an East Kilbride boy - I'll go up to K-Park to watch East Kilbride in the Lowland League, while at the same time being able to go and watch Rangers - I love it all.

"If there's a game on anywhere I'll stop the car if I'm driving past, and go and watch a bit of it.

"There are the occasional double-takes, people wondering 'is that McCoist?' - but the glasses and bunnet usually let me get away with it!"

Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on Facebook or find us on Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.

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