WHENEVER it was suggested to Ally McCoist that he appeared to be anointed with a greater level of good fortune than most during his playing career, his response was typically sharp.
"You can't be lucky 355 times", he would observe with a glint in his eye, the reference to the record number of competitive goals he scored for Rangers an effective reminder that his success was not simply a happy accident.
McCoist, however, has n
ever been slow to recognise those occasions when fate has been kind to him. As he stood in the Hampden tunnel on Saturday, he reflected on the unforeseen circumstances which he believes allowed Rangers to win a championship and Scottish Cup double for the 18th time in their history.
The Rangers assistant-manager is sure that had the Ibrox club not been frustrated in their attempts to sell at least one major player during the January transfer window, then the SPL trophy and Scottish Cup would not now be resident in their trophy room.
"When the chairman and manager came out in January and explained that we had to sell players, it gave everyone an indication that we were struggling as a business," observed McCoist.
"To win anything, you definitely need to carry a little bit of luck. Our large slice of luck was that we managed to keep everyone in January. We could easily have lost one or two players at that time. If we had, then I wouldn't be talking to you now after the team has won a double."
McCoist agreed that the double was secured in less than glorious fashion against an admirable Falkirk side who were certainly denied any of the breaks required to overturn the odds at Hampden.
Nonetheless, McCoist is adamant nothing should diminish the achievement of the Rangers players in seeing their season through to a successful conclusion. "I see a tremendous bond and spirit now among those players and that was what got us through large parts of this cup final," he said. "Falkirk knocked the ball about really well and we just had to dig in.
"A lot of the time it wasn't pretty on the eye, I can totally accept that, but the players deserve all the credit going for winning a double.
"You have to give Falkirk credit for the way they set up against us. They have a confidence to pass the ball and take responsibility. Kevin McBride was a big thorn in our side, while Scott Arfield and Neil McCann were difficult to pick up.
"We changed it at half-time to counter one or two things and it worked for us. But Falkirk must take credit for our inability to get going."
The quality of the cup final, along with the general current standard of Scottish football, was criticised by pundits Charlie Nicholas and Ronald de Boer on Sky Sports who beamed the match throughout the United Kingdom and beyond.
It is a view McCoist would certainly echo if he was still earning a living in a television studio, but he is aware of different responsibilities now.
"All I would say is that, while there are no de Boers, Nicholases, Laudrups or Di Canios around in Scottish football now, you go through cycles like that," he added. "We just have to face facts and play with the cards we are dealt.
"If I was to mump and moan because those kind of players are not there, then I don't think I would be doing my job. I've got to talk up the game. The television boys might be right in saying the skill factor wasn't great, that it wasn't the best spectacle. But has there been a more exciting league than we had this year? I think you will struggle to beat it anywhere for excitement."
McCoist is fully aware Rangers' squad needs to be enhanced for the defence of their title next season and a Champions League campaign, although that promises to be a challenging task in light of their continuing financial problems.
"We will sit down now and have a really good look at it," he said. "We will enjoy the moment, and it has been a wonderful season, but we have to progress. You have to move forward and that's what we want to do. We have to strengthen areas of the team and the squad."
McCoist remains hopeful both current captain David Weir and former skipper Barry Ferguson will remain at the club next season. Weir, who celebrated his 39th birthday last month, is likely to be offered a further one-year contract, while Ferguson's future will be determined after he returns from holiday.
"Davie is an amazing man," said McCoist. "His levels of fitness are quite phenomenal. I looked at his stats the other day and not only has he played more games than anyone else in our squad this season, he has never missed a training session which is incredible.
"My advice to Davie is to play another year, if he feels he can do himself justice. Certainly, there has been nothing in his performances over the past few weeks to suggest he should be hanging his boots up. He knows his body better than anyone, though, and he will make that decision. I would be delighted to work with him for another year, because he is a fantastic man to have around the place.
"As far as Barry is concerned, I don't see any reason why the cup final will prove to be his swansong.
"Unless you have heard something I haven't, he has a year of his contract to go. He will sit down with the chairman and his agent, but you never know, you might see Barry Ferguson lifting that Scottish Cup again next season. He is a great player and we want all of our great players to stay."
The full article contains 988 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
