Rangers manager Ally McCoist says he wholly supports the Scottish Football Association’s plan for a full independent inquiry into the activities of the club.
The football governing body have expressed concerns about the “developing situation” at the Scottish champions, who were forced to call in the administrators on Tuesday over an unpaid tax bill of STG9 million ($A13.3 million) accrued since Craig Whyte’s takeover in May.
Speaking to the media following Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Kilmarnock in the Premier League, McCoist said he believes employees and fans deserve clarity on the club’s finances.
“Personally, as manager of the club, I would encourage it because the amount of clarity that comes out of the whole issue is vital to everybody – supporters, you guys, employees, everybody,” he said.
“We want all the facts and the figures and everything disclosed.
“It’s the very least the supporters and staff deserve and you would see that as a way forward too. So any investigation, myself as manager of the club, would wholly support.
“We have to have clarity for us to move forward. We have already taken a right good few steps back so if there are any more to go back, we are as well getting them now because we’ve got a long way forward.”
A crowd of 50,268 packed into Ibrox with fans desperate to demonstrate their backing for McCoist and the players.
But a turbulent week – which included being automatically docked 10 points by the SPL – was to end in further disappointment when Dean Shiels’ goal sealed victory for Kilmarnock.
McCoist said: “It hurts an awful lot because we all really, really wanted to get three points for the supporters.
“It goes without saying that we try to do our best and try to win games at the best of times but today it’s really painful that we didn’t manage to do it for the fans.”
Asked if his players were affected by the events of the last few days, he added: “I don’t know, we will all have different opinions on it. I’m not sure.
“I certainly wouldn’t blame them if maybe it did get to them a little bit.
“We can all say they are professional but if somebody threatens your job, people will react in different ways.
“The way the players reacted in the second half, it’s what everybody at the football club will have to do and get the sleeves rolled up and just get on with it and face what’s coming.”
McCoist confirmed that on-loan Arsenal defender Kyle Bartley was injured on Saturday and is still at the club, while revealing illness was behind his decision to withdraw Dorin Goian after just 21 minutes.
He said: “To be fair, the situation with Goian was that he’s had a fever and has basically been in his bed for three days.
“I chatted with him this morning and he was very keen to play, which, as you can imagine, is highly commendable.
“But he was obviously not anywhere near fit enough and I fully accept the responsibility of starting him and taking him off. He just wasn’t up to it.”
