Ally McCoist sets deadline for Rangers to be competing with Celtic domestically – and it isn't ‘three to five years'
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RANGERS hero Ally McCoist has told his former club they MUST be battling it out with Celtic for the major domestic honours well before the "three to five year" deadline envisaged by Sir David Murray.
The club's former owner warned fans they need to be patient with the club's new bosses when he sat down exclusively with SunSport's Roger Hannah at the weekend.
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Rangers head coach Russell Martin
Credit: PA
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Ally McCoist
Credit: Willie Vass
But McCoist knows that patience amongst the club's fanbase is always limited - and has told new boss Russell Martin and the Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises regime in the boardroom that they need to be competitive well before that.
Celtic have snapped up the last four titles in a row, and would dearly love to make it a full unbroken decade of domestic dominance.
Responding to a jibe from Celtic-daft co-host Alan Brazil that their initial £20m investment in the first team "isn't a lot", McCoist told TalkSPORT: "No, it's not.
"But it goes a lot further in Scotland than it does in England, that goes without saying.
"The ex chairman is spot on [about the new owners], you can see they way they've run Leeds, they've taken their time and not gone crazy.
"They've obviously had great success last season and I think the Rangers fans would absolutely settle for that.
"But I would certainly hope you would be competing domestically with Celtic well before the three or five years, I would, 100%.
"I think you've got to be realistic and say Celtic are still the team to beat.
"What did they win the title by last season? Seventeen points, very very comfortably.
"Celtic have been a great success the last two years, some great performances in Europe in the Champions League, without any real competition domestically.
Rangers transfer special including Metinho chase, Rothwell latest and Igamane fee
"And that is what has to change from Rangers' point of view. Europe is great but Europe is a bonus at this moment in time. Certainly I think Rangers have to get their act together domestically and be back competing against Celtic on a regular basis."
Brazil, however, had a last warning, saying of Dermot Desmond: "He could just write a cheque now from his petty cash for £20m if he wished.
"But he doesn't do that.
"He makes Celtic generate their money but if he has to he will."
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