Why Stage Two of Ally McCoist’s Rangers mission could be a real challenge:

Stage one completed.

So read the message on the t-shirts of the Rangers players as they paraded the Third Division Championship trophy in front of their fans.

However, there are real concerns as to stage two of Rangers mission of rising back to the top of Scottish football being completed with further on and off field obstacles looming large.

To say that the ongoing story of what has happening down Ibrox way in the last 18 months has verged on the incredible is to put it mildly. The Gers fall from grace through administration, liquidation and now resurrection has created headlines all over the footballing world.

And  just when Ally McCoist hoped the worst was over news broke of a business model authorised by previous CEO Charles Green. This would have probably led to the removal of the current Gers manager, followed by a radical overhaul of the coaching structure.

Rangers were quick to dismiss the story and with Green now a former employee of the Ibrox club, following his sudden departure last month, the prospect of massive alterations of the existing practices at Murray Park appear to have diminished.

However, many Gers supporters are questioning if that really should be the case.

The plan to appoint a new Technical Director and the implementation of a new footballing philosophy centred on the development of young players is a good one.

The aim of having all playing staff comfortably consistently good with adapting to an attractive, free flowing passing game is an idea that anyone who has watched Rangers this past season would undoubtedly give the thumbs up to.

Rangers won the title at a canter in terms of points, but this should not paper over the cracks. It has been largely turgid stuff that the Gers faithful have been served up to on a weekly basis.

It is the view of this scribe, that this season has been a missed opportunity for Ally McCoist. Whilst he had to contend with the undeniable hassle of a lack of a proper pre- season preparation, he should have been able to piece together a side capable of playing in a forward thinking, easy on the eye style of play.

The reality though, is that with Ally at the helm the quality of football has been poor. Even with the acquisition of a much needed raft of new players this summer, it is difficult to see Rangers adopting a more attractive playing style next season.

Further revelations about what exactly has being going on in the boardroom since David Murray handed over the reigns to the disgraced Craig Whyte, will be splashed over the newspapers all summer. Until there is stability in the boardroom the task of creating a successful team will continue to be a challenge for Mr McCoist. But it is a challenge he will need to be prepared for, such are the demands of a Rangers manager.

Rangers will be playing Second Division football next season, there will be no fast track back to the top via the creation of an SPL 2 (yawn).

But for the competition of stage two, lessons must be learned of this past season or else Saturdays on field celebrations will become the last time Ally McCoist will be proudly posing with a trophy bedecked in red, white and blue ribbons.

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