Ally McCoist mocked live during ITV World Cup commentary over Rangers manager developments
Ally McCoist was on the receiving end of some witty Rangers banter from his ITV co-commentator Jon Champion live during their World Cup coverage.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst was sacked as Ibrox boss earlier on Monday (21 November), with the club now searching for a replacement before clubs return to action following the tournament in Qatar.
The Light Blues have fallen nine points off the top of the SPFL behind Celtic and went through the worst ever Champions League group stage campaign on their return to the competition after more than a decade.
Speaking live on the ITV coverage of Senegal vs Netherlands on Monday night (21 November, 5.21pm) Champion said: “It allows me to bring disturbing news to you Mr McCoist, on the day that Rangers sadly parted company with another Dutchman, Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
“I’m just having a look at the odds for Rangers’ next manager and you don’t feature. Not in the top ten.
“There’s a couple of newsreaders from STV in there and a lady called Helen who you apparently helped to win a massive amount of money on a nationwide TV game show recently. But you don’t get a mention.”
McCoist replied: “You’ve been saving that up haven’t you?”
“No, it only happened today,” protested Champion.
McCoist laughed it off, saying: “You had that planned. You thought: ‘After the hour mark, I’m hitting him with that’.”
Comedy duo
The pair are many viewers’ favourite commentary team these days and they seem to get on well, so it was no surprise that there was a joke on its way given the day’s events.
The club’s record scorer spent three and a half seasons in charge as they looked to climb back from the lower leagues following administration, after being Walter Smith’s assistant over a decade ago.
He has not been a manager since so there is clearly close to zero chance that he will return to the Rangers hot seat again in the future.
Whoever the board have in mind they have a major job on their hands to lift the atmosphere within the squad and in the stands following Van Bronckhorst’s departure.
The league title may already be out of reach, and it is impossible to escape the conclusion that there is still significant work that needs to be done in the transfer market.
Despite the memorable run to the Europa League final and the Scottish Cup win last season, things have gone backwards domestically overall in a short space of time, so the club has to get this next appointment right.
In other Rangers news, the club can now hit the January transfer window hard after a £55million windfall.