Wednesday 26 November 2014 17:40, UK
Neil McCann believes Rangers can still win the Scottish Championship this season but has called on their senior players to 'step up to the plate'.
Rangers fell nine points behind runaway leaders Hearts following their 2-0 defeat at Tynecastle last weekend but Sky Sports pundit McCann, who played for both sides, is convinced the Jambos can be reeled in.
I still believe that Rangers squad is equipped well enough to win this league. But they need to start stepping up and getting results.
Speaking on the Morning View on Sky Sports News HQ, the former Scotland international, currently a coach at League One Dunfermline, said: "Yes, I do believe they can catch them. Rangers are the stronger squad and Hearts will dip.
"It's an interesting one. We are only 14 games into the campaign but nine points ahead, even at this early stage, is still a lot of points to try and grab back. Even this morning Hearts owner Ann Budge has come out and said they don't have to win the league, it's not critical to them.
"But I think it's critical to Rangers. They are still in a lot of trouble financially and they had to get Mike Ashley to bail them out recently. Rangers have to go up.
"Ally McCoist so far has won Leagues One and Two and I still believe that that squad is equipped well enough to win this league. But they need to start stepping up and getting results.
"It's ok having a strong squad, an experienced squad, but that's not enough. They need to match the energy, enthusiasm and application of the teams around them.
"The Championship may not be the most glamorous league but it is a tough league and there are boys in there who are trying to make a name for themselves in the game."
He is still playing the same type of brand of football and at the minute they are nine points off and I think Ally needs a lot more help from behind him.
McCann, who scored 19 goals in 113 games for Rangers between 1998-2003, following a three-year period at Hearts, admits manager McCoist is under pressure and is calling for his backroom staff to help get their league campaign back on track.
"As a player, his legendary status will never go away, but football is such that he is now in a different role as manager and he has to step up.
"He has won the two divisions easily but now this is a more difficult one. He is still playing the same type of brand of football and at the minute they are nine points off and I think Ally needs a lot more help from behind him.
"I'm looking at Ian Durrant and Kenny McDowell who are good coaches there and I wonder what influences they have on the side.
"What work is being done on the training ground? Is Ally shaping them and doing tactical work with them? If that is happening on the training ground then why is it going wrong on the pitch?
"If that is the case these big guys have to step up. Kris Boyd, Kenny Miller, Lee McCulloch, Ian Black. All these guys have to step up to the plate and match the young kids of Hearts."
And amid speculation on the future of McCoist, who came in for fierce criticism from a section of their travelling support last weekend, McCann questions whether Rangers have anyone in place to make such a decision at this time.
"It's an incredible situation at Rangers," he added. "I don't think anyone knows who is calling the shots there behind the scenes. I know Mike Ashley has bankrolled the pay cheques, he's put a lot of money in, but what say has that given the man? What control does he have?
"And the question of whether Ally McCoist should stay or go, well, who is going to make that deicsion? And indeed if Ally and his backroom team have to go to make a change then who is going to bankroll that as well? They are not in a good financial position at the minute."
But McCann is convinced the current squad is capable of beating Kilmarnock this weekend and will come out on top when the sides clash in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup at Ibrox.
I don't think anyone knows who is calling the shots at Ibrox. Mike ashley has bankrolled the pay cheques... but what say has that given him? What control does he have?
"I think Rangers can do. They need to lift their level of performance but I know Kilmarnock fancy their chances," he said.
"They have been beaten in their last four games but it just shows you that, I'm not saying they disrespect (Rangers) but the view of other teams towards Rangers is that they don't hold a fear factor any more.
"I think they will enjoy going to play Rangers. Kris Boyd would like to put them to the sword but he needs to find the goals he was scoring for Kilmarnock last year and if he is getting service, but not taking the chances, then of course he will find himself on the bench.
"But this is a game that Rangers can win if they approach it properly."
Watch Rangers take on Kilmarnock from Ibrox live on Sky Sports 2 from 12.30 pm this Sunday
