SPL clubs would suffer if Rangers were relegated, insists McCoist

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UPDATED:

16:25 GMT, 5 May 2012

Ally McCoist believes other Scottish Premier League clubs could face a threat to their own livelihoods if Rangers are forced down to the Irn-Bru Third Division.

The 12 top-flight clubs are set to meet on Monday to discuss financial fair play proposals that could mean tougher sanctions for insolvent clubs.

If passed, the new rules would mean any club who has undergone an 'insolvency transfer event' would be docked 10 points for two seasons and see their league income slashed by 75 per cent for three years, as of next season.

Hope: Ally McCoist has his fingers crossed for Rangers

Preferred bidder Bill Miller's plan if he gains control of Rangers is to create an 'incubator' company while Duff and Phelps aim to take the club out of administration via a CVA.

His 'newco' plans would have to be in place by the end of this season to avoid any new SPL rules, otherwise sanctions would be at the discretion of the SPL board.

And speaking after Saturday's goalless draw against Motherwell, McCoist said: 'I just hope it's a favourable result for us on Monday.

'I can understand that the SPL and the SFA have got big decisions to make and they won't please everybody.'

Rangers have also been hit with a 12-month embargo on signing players over the age of 17 by the Scottish Football Association, which is subject to appeal by the Glasgow giants.

McCoist added: 'I just spoke to a radio reporter there and he said the phone-lines on the radio station have been jammed with non-Rangers supporters saying we should go down to Division Three and all that kind of stuff.

Support: Rangers fans hail their manager McCoist

'I can understand that but it's not just as simple as that because I do believe there would be a threat to the livelihood of maybe some other clubs in the SPL if that were to happen.

'That's not something I would say lightly but in terms of the finance of Scottish football – sponsors and television money and things like that – it's a massive issue.

'The right thing to do might be the wrong thing in the long run. It's a big problem.'

Tennessee trucking tycoon Miller was named preferred bidder by administrators on Thursday ahead of a rival bid by the Blue Knights and Brian Kennedy.

McCoist said: 'I spoke to the administrators briefly before the game and I'll speak to them again within an hour or so.

'I'll probably try to give Bill Miller a call later this evening.'

Sasa Papac revealed he will quit Rangers when his contract expires at the end of the season.

And, with uncertainty still surrounding the future of the club, Saturday's game could be the last at Ibrox for some other Rangers players as well.

Bore draw: Rangers and Motherwell failed to shine at Ibrox

However, McCoist was reluctant to accept that could be the case, saying: 'I hope not. I hope that's not the case.'

Reflecting on the game, which was in stark contrast to the 5-0 thrashing of Dundee United midweek, McCoist said: 'It's really difficult to be too critical of the players but, at the same time, you've got a job to do.

'We didn't play well at all. We looked a little bit heavy-legged and a little bit tired.

'We had chances to win the game and possibly could have, and should have, had a penalty.

'It just looked like an end of season game to be quite frank.'

Motherwell had already secured third place before the short trip to Glasgow and will take Rangers' place in the Champions League qualifiers next season, with their financial issues restricting them from gaining a UEFA licence.

Boss Stuart McCall said: 'We wanted to come here and prove why we are the best of the rest and I thought we did that.

'We saw what Rangers did to Dundee United the other night and I thought we acquitted ourselves well. It was a deserved point.'